Actions in Response to Recommendations of Evaluations in FY2022

The following are the actions in response to the recommendations raised in the five ODA evaluations conducted in FY2022.

Evaluation of Japan’s ODA to Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Recommendation 1: Strengthen Public Relations to Leverage the Results of Japan’s ODA Projects as Diplomatic Power

ODA is an important policy tool for diplomacy, and there is a growing need to publicize ODA projects, not only for Laos, in order to gain the understanding and support of the public. From this perspective, the Embassy of Japan in Laos and the JICA Laos Office are working on public relations to promote “Visible Japanese Development Cooperation” for the local people through local media, web pages, and social media (Facebook, distribution of videos, etc.), as a part of Japan’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in Laos. In addition to those activities, Japan will re-examine what kind of public relations activities would be effective in Laos. With regard to public relations in Japan, Japan has been disseminating information on its aid programs in Laos through the ODA website, social media, and videos that depict the activities of Japanese companies engaged in ODA in Laos, in order to promote understanding among the public in Japan. While there are budgetary constraints, Japan will consider and implement more effective public relations while taking reference from the ODA Evaluation Results.

Recommendation 2: Strengthen Intellectual Support for Fiscal Stability

The JICA Laos Office, led by the Debt Management Advisors, is also holding individual consultations with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other organizations. In addition to the advisors’ activities, it is also engaged in consultations with the respective donors about cooperation in the aspect of revenue, such as the areas of customs and finance. Japan will continue to cooperate and collaborate with other aid agencies and strengthen support for fiscal stability.

On the other hand, Japan wishes to play an active role as a member rather than taking on a new role as a contact point or coordinator, while respecting the existing framework of donor meetings in the Round Table Process (RTP) as well as the work of the Co-Chairs of the Governance and Macroeconomics Sector Working Groups. (Japan fulfills a coordinating role in the health, infrastructure, and other Sector Working Groups.)

Recommendation 3: Strategically Pursue Substantial Synergies with Chinese Aid

In reviewing the next Country Development Cooperation Policy (and the JICA Country Analysis Paper), industrial and educational support will be considered based on the status of development with aid from other countries including China.

Evaluation of Japan’s ODA to Tajikistan

Recommendation 1: Strengthen the Monitoring of Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations

The Embassy of Japan in Tajikistan and JICA Tajikistan Office will examine the status of Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations that are being implemented and scheduled to be implemented, as the number of such projects is large. In addition to periodical reporting on the progress status of projects, particularly when problems such as delays or divergence from the actual situation arise, Japan will request explanations in person and seek improvements in writing from international organizations, and report on their response to these requests to the responsible departments in Japan.

While Japan will not request the preparation and submission of reports in Japan’s own formats in view of the administrative burden this may place on international organizations, it will consider improvement measures based on the recommendations set out in the evaluation report of Japan’s ODA to Tajikistan. These include requesting international organizations to describe outcomes, impacts, and other details from the stage of preparing the written request for a project, and to prepare their reports based on them.

Recommendation 2: Complementarity between Japanese Projects and Health System Reform in the Health Sector

The JICA Tajikistan Office will continue to participate in working groups such as the monthly health meetings of the Donor Coordination Council. It will also more actively communicate to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan, government-affiliated agencies, and the donor community, good practices from the ongoing project for improving the healthcare system in Khatlon Province. This is aimed at realizing improvements to health systems that the World Health Organization (WHO) has been advocating, based on the concept of strengthening health systems that JICA set out in its Country Analysis Paper for Tajikistan in 2018. Through these efforts, Japan will further clarify the position of its contribution to the reform of health systems through the nationwide rollout of these good practices.

Evaluation of Japan’s ODA to Turkey

Recommendation 1: Continue Cooperation in Connection with Disaster Risk Reduction

Japan will continue to provide cooperation that leverages its experience and knowhow from overcoming the damage caused by many natural disasters. In particular, Japan is considering cooperation toward reconstruction and recovery from damage caused by the earthquake with its epicenter in the southeastern part of Turkey on February 6, 2023.

Recommendation 2: Strengthen Cooperation in Connection with Climate Change Countermeasures

In light of Turkey’s ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2021, Japan will review cooperation that contributes to strengthening Turkey’s climate change countermeasures with a focus on areas in which Japan has a comparative advantage, such as the decarbonization of the industrial sector.

Recommendation 3: Promote People-to-People Exchanges (Training in Japan)

In addition to pursuing opportunities for training in Japan and invitations from JICA through technical cooperation, Japan will strive to disseminate the experiences and knowledge from JICA’s training and maintain networks through continued support for the alumni of trainees who have returned to their home countries.

Recommendation 4: Expand and Promote Triangular Cooperation Programs with Turkey

With a focus on areas in which the utilization, promotion, and expansion of Japan’s knowledge are anticipated, areas that contribute to the stabilization of the region, and areas that are expected to strengthen Japan’s presence and visibility, Japan will work with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and other agencies affiliated with the Government of Turkey to review the further implementation of third-country training programs and other initiatives, while taking into account their cultural and religious affinity with Turkey.

Recommendation 5: Strengthen Public Relations Activities in Turkey

With regard to the public relations activities that Japan has been implementing to date, such as publicity through social media and site tours for members of the press, Japan will continue to carry out public relations activities while paying attention to the viewpoints gained in this evaluation, and from the perspective of implementing public relations more efficiently and effectively. For example, it will work to deepen understanding among the Turkish public with reference to the examples of efforts by other countries active in Turkey.

Recommendation 6: Reconsider Revising the Schedule of the Development Cooperation Policy

Japan will revise its Country Development Cooperation Policy for Turkey after the announcement of the Twelfth Development Plan of Turkey.

Recommendation 7: Examine Methods of Enhancing Expertise in the JICA Turkey Office

In particularly specialized areas such as procurement procedures for ODA loans, Japan will make arrangements to back up the JICA Turkey Office with support from specialized departments of the JICA headquarters. Japan will inform the relevant organizations in Turkey of this arrangement, and continue smooth communication with them.

Evaluation of “Japan’s Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme to Cuba in JFY 2016” and “Japan’s Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme to Cuba in JFY 2017”

Recommendation 1: Continuous Operation of Equipment through Procurement of Spare Parts

Under the Economic and Social Development Programme, an appropriate quantity of spare parts is usually included in the items procured based on the operational plans and corresponding to the circumstances of each country, in consultation with manufacturers, implementing agencies in the partner country, and procurement agencies. The same applies in this case. On the other hand, in cases where a new grant aid project is implemented, Japan will also consider measures that can be put in place for the continuous realization of the effects of the project, while taking into account the constraints faced by the Cuban government in procuring parts.

Recommendation 2: Study of Waste Reduction and Securing a New Final Disposal Site Based on the Experience of Neighboring Countries

In considering practical solutions toward waste reduction and securing a final disposal site by Cuba itself, Japan will make the best use of the knowledge and experience it has gained in providing support in similar areas to neighboring countries, and consider measures that can enable Cuba to learn from the experiences of neighboring countries through technical cooperation and other means.

Recommendation 3: Consideration of Assistance to Help Improve the Situation Surrounding Cuba’s Balance of International Payments

It is important that Cuba can repay its debts from the perspective of Japan’s national interests. Hence, Japan will consider what it can do to provide comprehensive support to improve Cuba’s balance of international payments, while closely monitoring the repayment situation.