Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2011
2. Sustainable Growth
(1) Socio-economic Infrastructure
To reduce poverty in developing countries, it is indispensable not only to implement measures to reduce poverty and to provide assistance in the areas of social development that directly help the poor, but also to promote sustainable economic growth. Therefore, it is important to improve the socio-economic infrastructure that serves as the foundation for the improvement of developing countries.
<Japan's Efforts>
Japan supports infrastructure development and fosters the human resources to maintain, manage, and operate this infrastructure, in accordance with the development policies of developing countries. In terms of specific infrastructure development, development is carried out on roads, ports, airports, and information and communication technology (ICT). Such infrastructure contributes to an expansion of exchange between urban and rural areas, ensures security against disasters, and promotes trade and investment with overseas regions. In addition, social infrastructure, which contributes to ensuring education, health, safe water and sanitation, housing, and better access to hospitals and schools, is also established, as well as development of agricultural and fishery markets and fishing ports to revitalize local economies.
Heading toward the Saigon River Tunnel that is part of the "Saigon East-West Highway Construction Project" in Vietnam (Photo: Koji Sato/JICA)
[Cambodia]
"Project on Capacity Enhancement of Environmental and Social Considerations for Resettlement"
Technical Cooperation Project (April 2010 - Current)
Further improvement of the transportation infrastructure is an issue that must be resolved in order to achieve a higher level of economic growth in Cambodia through preparation and maintenance of the infrastructure. Meanwhile, it is also important to give appropriate consideration to environmental and social aspects when moving ahead with development, and in particular, if it is necessary for residents to relocate in conjunction with the construction of new roads and the increase of traffic lanes on existing roads, it is necessary to give appropriate consideration to respecting fundamental human rights, the transparency of information, etc. Cambodia has many development needs, and in the future, the Resettlement Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance plans to take overall control of support for the relocation of residents in conjunction with public works projects conducted by the central government, provincial governments and city governments, so improvement of the abilities of the Department is a pressing issue. To contribute to a resolution of this issue, Japan dispatches Japanese specialists and proactively implements projects to improve the capabilities of staff members who propose policies related to resettlement, and to support the maintenance of implementation rules and strengthening of the implementation structure. These efforts are expected to enable development to proceed in an appropriate and sustainable manner.
Utilizing audiovisual equipment to make explanation meetings easier for residents to understand (Photo: JICA)