Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2011
(7) Information Disclosure and Public Relations
Because the source of funding for ODA is the taxpayers' money, Japan works to ensure transparency, and to disclose and transmit information.
•Public Relations and Information Disclosure
MOFA and JICA have each launched websites related to ODA (Note 32) that are linked to each other, which aim to release accurate and timely information. In October 2010, the "ODA mieru-ka site" (website for visualization of ODA) was launched within the JICA website so the current state of ODA projects and other aspects of the overall flow are easily understood. In addition, an ODA e-mail magazine is published to introduce the experiences and stories related to the actual site of assistance by officials of overseas embassies and consulates as well as JICA staffs.
The ODA On-Demand-Delivery Lecture is also conducted to explain and describe international cooperation, where officials of MOFA and JICA visit middle schools, high schools, universities, local governments, NGOs, and other groups as instructors.
Since FY1997, a series of television programs have been broadcast to promote public interest in and understanding of international cooperation. In FY2010, TV Tokyo's "Chikyu VOCE" covered Japanese aid workers in developing countries and addressed the local people helped by that assistance, and introduced the current state of developing countries, the reasons why assistance is necessary, and the impact of Japan's ODA projects.
Global Festa JAPAN is held annually around the time of the International Cooperation Day* (October 6) as Japan's largest international cooperation event. The event is co-hosted by MOFA, JICA, and the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) on a Saturday and Sunday at Hibiya Park in Tokyo. Over 270 organizations, including NGOs, international organizations, and embassies and related ministries participate. More than 112,000 people attended the 2011 event.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff member provides an explanation of Japan's ODA during ODA On-Demand-Delivery Lecture
A talk between former JICA Volunteers held at Global Festa Japan
Terminology
*International Cooperation Day
On October 6, 1954, Japan made a cabinet decision to join the Colombo Plan, and began economic cooperation. In conjunction with this, October 6 was designated as the "International Cooperation Day" with the authorization of the cabinet.
Notes:
(32) Ministry of Foreign Affairs ODA page: http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda
JICA: http://www.jica.go.jp/english
Website for visualization of ODA http://www.jica.go.jp/oda (Japanese only)