Chapter 1 Japan's Official Development Assistance in Terms of Disbursement

In 2011, Japan's net ODA disbursements accounted for $10,831.42 million as ranked fifth in the world, and Japan's gross ODA disbursement is $19,992.14 million as ranked second in the world.

Mr. Shichijo of the Water Security Action Team (W-SAT), Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) visits a village in Rwanda to conduct a water sanitation educational activities (Photo: Kenshiro Imamura/JICA)

Japan's net bilateral ODA disbursements in 2011 totaled approximately $6,592.25 million (¥525.4 billion). Contributions to international organizations amounted to approximately $4,239.17 million (¥337.9 billion). These figures make for a 1.7% decrease from the previous year in overall ODA disbursements, reaching approximately $10,831.42 million (¥863.3 billion).(Note 1) Disbursements of bilateral ODA that are not calculated in repayment amounts of government loans, etc., totaled approximately $19,992.14 million (¥1,593.5 billion), a 6.2% increase over the previous year.(Note 2)

Note 1: Excluding disbursements to Eastern European countries and graduated countries (countries that are no longer targets).

Note 2: The relation of gross and net disbursements is as follows: net disbursements = gross disbursements - amount recovered (repayment amounts of government loans from recipient countries to donor countries)

<Disbursement Analysis>

Japan's 2011 net disbursements of ODA decreased approximately 1.7% over the previous year. Japan remained at its 2010 ranking of fifth place among OECD-DAC member countries, behind the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. In gross disbursements, Japan ranked second only to the United States as in the previous year.

A breakdown of 2011 net disbursements shows that bilateral ODA accounted for approximately 60.9% of overall disbursements, while ODA towards international organizations accounted for approximately 39.1%. Bilateral ODA, which is implemented in consultation with developing countries, is expected to strengthen Japan's relationship with recipient countries. Meanwhile, ODA directed towards international organizations may allow us to utilize their expertise and political neutrality to support countries and regions that are otherwise difficult to support bilaterally. Japan goes to great efforts to ensure that its aid is provided properly, coordinating both aid types and making flexible use of aid.

Examining net disbursements for bilateral ODA by type indicated that disbursements calculated as grant aid totaled approximately $4,682.23 million (¥373.2 billion), or approximately 43.2% of the total ODA disbursements. Among these grants, donations to international organizations accounted for approximately $1,622.08 million (¥129.3 billion), or approximately 15.0% of the total. Additionally, technical cooperation accounted for approximately $3,533.77 million (¥281.7 billion), or approximately 32.6% of the total. Government loans accounted for approximately –$1,623.76 million (–¥129.4 billion). (Negative figures indicate that the recovered amount of such loans exceeds that of the disbursed amount)

Japan's bilateral ODA by region is as follows.

The figures in parentheses are gross disbursements (including assistance to Eastern Europe and graduated countries.

◆Asia: $1,371.22 million ($7,746.40 million)

◆Middle East and North Africa: $952.38 million ($1,860.39 million)

◆Sub-Saharan Africa: $1,733.67 million ($3,184.33 million)

◆Latin America and the Caribbean: –$334.93 million ($837.83 million)

◆Oceania: $159.07 million ($183.36 million)

◆Europe: $173.82 million ($246.78 million)

◆Assistance covering multiple regions: $1,785.49 million ($1,785.49 million)

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