1. Japan's Official Development Assistance Annual Report (informally, the ODA White Paper) is a two-volume publication first released in 1984. The first volume discusses recent trends and future courses in ODA, with a focus on issues of high priority. The report incorporates a wealth of statistical data and charts as well as articles of topical interest for improved readability. The second volume spells out basic aid policy for specific countries and regions and presents ODA accomplishments together with detailed data sheets. In a report on the findings of an April 1999 review of Japanese aid, DAC gave the ODA White Paper high marks. In particular, it noted that the ODA-related PR materials put out by the Japanese government continue to be among the broadest in scope of any DAC member country. MoFA's ODA White Paper was credited as a compendious source of the latest information and data on ODA undertakings, enhanced by detailed descriptions of Japanese aid projects in specific recipient countries as well as the activities of other DAC countries and multilateral institutions in the aid arena. An abridged English edition of the White Paper is published in addition to the full Japanese version.

2. Annual Report on the Implementation of Japan's ODA was first issued in 1993 as a report in keeping with the principles of the ODA Charter (approved by the Cabinet in June 1992) and is concerned with ODA projects and activities government-wide. Although the report primarily describes the ODA accomplishments of the preceding fiscal year (by region, sector, aid issue, etc.), it is distinguished by its comprehensive overview not only of the ODA projects led by MoFA, but also of the activities of other ministries and agencies as well as the multilateral institutions that receive financial contributions from Japan.

3. The Annual Evaluation Report on Japan's Economic Cooperation was launched in 1982, and discloses the findings of studies concerned with the efficiency and effectiveness of projects in economic cooperation that have been evaluated. Efforts have been made to improve the objectivity and the report by commissioning more evaluations to outside experts, thinktanks, and other third parties. In 1999, the report provided a more comprehensive picture of evaluation activities and included the findings of evaluations conducted by JICA and the OECF in addition to MoFA.

4. In April 1995, MoFA initiated its ODA Trends fax information service. Monthly fax-based reports on the latest ODA topics are currently transmitted to some 1,400 opinion makers, including members of parliament and experts in the ODA field. In June 1999, MoFA also began monthly mailings of ODA information to mass-media organizations at the community level.