Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2010
2. Sustainable Growth
(1) Socio-economic Infrastructure
For poverty reduction in developing countries, it is indispensable not only to implement measures to reduce poverty or to provide assistance in the areas of social development that could directly influence the poor, but also to promote sustainable development through economic growth. For this reason, it is important to improve socio-economic infrastructure that provides the foundation for the improvement of developing countries.
<Japan’s Efforts>
On the basis of the development policies of developing countries, Japan supports infrastructure development and fosters the human resources to develop, manage, and operate this infrastructure. In terms of specific infrastructure development, development is carried out on roads, ports, airports, and information and communication technology (ICT). Such infrastructure contributes to expanding exchange between urban and rural areas, ensures security against disasters, and promotes trade and investment from overseas. Social infrastructure development which contributes to ensuring education, health, safe water and sanitation, housing, and better access to hospitals and schools is also carried out. So too is the development of agricultural and fishery markets and fishery ports in order to vitalize local economies.
●Burundi: Improvement of Public Transport and Rehabilitation of Public Transportation
In Burundi, civil war which continued more than a decade until it ended in 2006, has destroyed a large portion of its infrastructure. In terms of bus transportation — the only public transit system connecting rural areas and the capital, while over 100 buses were operating before the civil war, the operation ratio has been halved due to the civil war. In order to contribute to restoring and expanding the public transportation network that is critical to the reconstruction of Burundi, Japan provides necessary funds in the form of grant aid for new procurement of buses. At the same time, Japan implements technical cooperation for the rehabilitation of Burundi’s public transportation system. The project is expected to restore human mobility back to pre-civil war levels and contribute to the country’s sustainable reconstruction.