FY2024 MOFA ODA Evaluation Results
Regional Evaluation of ASEAN-Japan Connectivity Support, Centered on the “Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative”
| Chief Evaluator | Dr. FUJIMURA Manabu Professor, College of Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University |
| Advisor | Dr. KIMURA Fukunari Professor Emeritus and Senior Professor, Keio University |
| Consultant | International Development Center of Japan Inc. |
| Evaluation Period | Japanese Fiscal Year (JFY) 2020 - 2023 |
| Period of the Evaluation Study | June 2024 - February 2025 |
Field Survey Countries |
Cambodia and Indonesia |
Background, Objectives, and Scope of the Evaluation
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been working closely together for peace, stability, development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and celebrated 50th years of friendship and cooperation in 2023. This evaluation was conducted on Japan’s cooperation with ASEAN, targeting cooperation policies and cooperation which support ASEAN’s efforts to strengthen connectivity, which were implemented based on the Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative (announced in November 2020).
Summary of the Evaluation Results
● Development Viewpoints
(1) Relevance of Policies
The Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative is a set of ASEAN policies in which infrastructure development/improvement projects are formed and implemented in a way that contributes to physical connectivity, while soft cooperation such as technical cooperation is provided in a way that contributes to institutional and people-to-people connectivity. The Initiative is consistent with Japan’s Foreign Policy of Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and the priority policies outlined in the Development Cooperation Charter, which is the upper-level policy of Japan’s ODA.
Although the Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative is not intended to promote collaboration with other donors, it was confirmed that several projects implemented under the Initiative were designed to promote collaboration or differentiation with other donors while taking into account Japan’s comparative advantage. The comparative advantages of Japanese ODA projects implemented under the Initiative include: comprehensive support that effectively combines hard component (infrastructure construction) and soft component (maintenance and management, human resource development through technical cooperation projects, etc.); highly transparent and sustainable infrastructure development; implementation of projects based on upstream master plan studies; and support for human resource development at multiple levels.
(Rating: Highly Satisfactory)
(2) Effectiveness of Results
The Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative consists of a total of 65 projects in 10 ASEAN member countries: 22 “Land Corridors,” 9 “Sea and Air Corridors,” and 34 “soft cooperation projects that contribute to enhancement of connectivity”. In Cambodia and Indonesia, case study countries for this study, it was confirmed that the planned projects are being steadily implemented or have been implemented. It is also understood that other ASEAN member countries are steadily implementing or have been implementing the projects. As the outcome and the impact, an increase in intra-regional GDP and the deepening of international production networks can also be confirmed. In addition, the steady progress was observed in achieving the goals of the initiative, together with the contribution to the long-term human resource development, benefits to the Japanese private sector, and impact on the planning of policies by other donor agencies.
(Rating: Highly Satisfactory)
(3) Appropriateness of Processes
As evaluated above in this section on the “Appropriateness of Process”, process regarding the Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative, including policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring, have continuously contributed to “Quality Infrastructure Investment” in terms of both physical and non-physical aspect, while staying close to ASEAN member countries that value ASEAN connectivity, and providing higher value-added support. On the other hand, it is necessary to organize brief and clear explanation of Japanese contribution to the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 through the Initiative for better recognition of the projects of the Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiative.
(Rating: Satisfactory)
*Rating: Highly Satisfactory; Satisfactory; Partially Satisfactory; Unsatisfactory
● Diplomatic Viewpoints
(1) Diplomatic importance: Importance regarding Japan’s national interest and the “prime water effect” leading international policy collaboration
In 2019, ASEAN released the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which sets forth the unity and centrality of ASEAN, and since the AOIP shares fundamental principles with the Japan’s FOIP, Japan quickly expressed its support for the AOIP. By 2023, the United States, Australia, the European Union, India, South Korea, and even China had announced their support for the AOIP, and it can be understood that Japan’s immediate announcement of support for the AOIP served as a catalyst for other countries to support the AOIP (so to speak, a “prime water effect” for policies collaboration”). Furthermore, the initiative has contributed to Japan’s three national interests, namely: (1) “Ensuring Japan’s existence” (2) “Achieving Japan’s prosperity”, and (3) “Maintaining international order”. Thus, support under the ASEAN Connectivity Initiative was important.
(2) Diplomatic impact: the most trusted partner and “prime water effect” leading economic impact
In the Joint Vision Statement for the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the subtitle is “Trusted Partners”. Also, an independent report published by ISEAS (Yusof Ishak Institute), an independent research institute in Singapore, which included the survey results of ASEAN expert (academicians, governmental officials and other experts) reported that “Japan is the most trusted partner” for six consecutive years. It was confirmed by the study in this evaluation, including field study in two case study countries, that the industrial base is expanding, which is an impact of the ODA provided by Japan, and thus it can be concluded the “prime water effect” leading economic impact has been realized. Furthermore, the expansion of exchanges at the governmental, private and civilian levels was also confirmed.
Recommendations
< Development Viewpoints >
1. Planning infrastructure assistance and intellectual assistance for multi-country infrastructure development/ improvement
(Symbolic transportation infrastructure; planning for power grid support; training and other intellectual support; etc.)
2. Assistance for institutional improvements in the international transportation network
(Digitalization of customs clearance; standardization of systems in multiple countries; etc.)
3. Continuation of the combination of physical assistance and non-physical (human resource development)
(Support for field and high-level human resource development and policy research)
4. Addressing the common issues between ASEAN and Japan as collaborative partners
(Climate change; natural disasters; public health, aging society; and the use of third-country training scheme; etc.)
5. Clarifying Japan’s ODA contribution in a context of ASEAN’s strategy for connectivity.
< Diplomatic Viewpoints >
6. Support and respect the unity and centrality of ASEAN
(Contribute to maintain and enhance reliability toward Japan)
7. Lead the international community by demonstrating universal values in the FOIP
(Promote rule of law and free trade)
The Patimban Port Development Project (Photo: Evaluation Team)