Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2008
Next PageMain Text > Part III Official Development Assistance in FY2007 > Chapter 3 International Trends of Assistance and Japan's Commitments > Section 3. Trends in the United Nations and Other Organizations and Japan's Commitments > 3. Trends in the World Bank
The World Bank and International Monetary Fund held their Joint Development Committee in October 2007. The committee presented a long-term strategy vision dubbed "An Inclusive & Sustainable Globalization" that takes into consideration impoverished groups. The committee furthermore presented six themes to achieve the vision: (1) Helping to overcome poverty and spur sustainable growth in the poorest countries, especially in Africa; (2) Addressing the special challenges of states coming out of conflict; (3) Developing a competitive menu of "development solutions" for middle income countries, involving customized services as well as finance; (4) Playing a more active role with regional and global "public goods" on issues crossing national borders, including climate change, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and aid for trade; (5) Supporting those advancing development and opportunity in the Arab world; and (6) Fostering a "knowledge and learning" agenda across the World Bank Group to support its role as a "brain trust" of applied experience.
The World Bank was credited as one of the co-promoters of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in Yokohama in May 2008. The Bank in this way cooperated at the conference in concentrating the wisdom and capitals of the international community into aid for Africa. Moreover, Japan and the World Bank agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the African region, specifically in the fields of infrastructure, private investment, agriculture, education, and health.