Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2006
Next PageBox II-2. Outline of "Water and Sanitation for Broad Partnership Initiative (WASABI)"
About the Initiative
- The Initiative is a sector assistance policy based on the ODA Charter and the Medium-term Policy on ODA.
- It is a policy document showing the basic policies and concrete measures of Japan's assistance on water and sanitation.
- The Government of Japan launched it on the occasion of the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico.
1. Japan's Basic Position
- Water is essential for life and is an extremely important element in achieving the MDGs.
- In the current situation, many people in developing countries don't have access to safe drinking water or basic sanitation.
- Japan has a comparative advantage on water and sanitation, and has implemented $4.6 billion of ODA in the past five years.
- Japan will utilize its experience, expertise, and technology to implement high-quality assistance.
2. Basic Policies
Japan will support the self-help efforts of developing countries on water and sanitation, establishing broad partnerships with international organizations, and other donor countries, etc.
(1) Pursuing the sustainability of water use
- Japan will support the formulation of integrated water resource management (IWRM) plans based on monitoring, forecasting, and evaluation.
- Japan will ensure sustainability through support at both the policy level and the project level.
(2) Emphasizing the "human security" perspective
- Japan will support the self-reliance of people through the participation of inhabitants in the maintenance, management, and operation of infrastructure, and through capacity development.
- Japan will strengthen the capacity of people in dealing with insufficient access to water and risks of natural disasters.
(3) Emphasizing capacity development
- Japan will promote the development of the organizations, policies, systems, information and data, and human resources of the developing countries' governments.
- Japan will promote the development in technological and managerial capacities at the local level.
(4) Pursuing synergistic effects through cross-sectoral measures
- Japan will consider the effects and impact on other sectors from the project formation phase and promote coordination with related sectors.
(5) Considering local conditions and appropriate technology
- Japan will consider local conditions and characteristics with respect to nature, society, and culture etc., and the appropriate technology.
3. Concrete Measures
(1) Promotion of integrated water resource management (IWRM)
- Implementation of IWRM; Support for structural development of trans-boundary watercourses
(2) Provision of safe drinking water and sanitation
- Rural communities: Supply of water and sanitation with consideration to local conditions and capacity development
- Urban areas: Utilization of private sector funds to meet large-scale funding needs; Support for transitional measures
(3) Support for water use for food production and other purposes
- Multi-faceted use of water including agricultural water, electricity generation, industrial water, and water transport, etc.
(4) Water pollution prevention and ecosystem conservation
- Water pollution prevention by sanitary facilities and effluent regulations, etc.; Support for greening and sustainable forest management
(5) Mitigation of damage from water-related disasters
- Establishment of early warning systems; Strengthening disaster response capacities of local communities; Infrastructure development including flood control facilities and drought management facilities