Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2013
Section 5 Formulation and Implementation of ODA Policy
The ODA Charter categorizes measures for providing more efficient and effective ODA into three parts: “system of formulation and implementation of ODA policy,” “increasing public participation,” and “matters essential to implementation of strategic and effective international cooperation.”
1. System of Formulation and Implementation of ODA Policy
(1) Formulation of Consistent Aid Policy
In August 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reorganized the Economic Cooperation Bureau and established the International Cooperation Bureau. The International Cooperation Bureau comprehensively plans and drafts ODA policies, while also playing a central role in coordinating throughout the entire government. In July 2009, the International Cooperation Bureau underwent organizational reform to strengthen the ODA policy planning and proposal function of MOFA. The Aid Policy Planning Division, that oversaw the planning and proposal of ODA policy, and the Grant Aid and Technical Cooperation Division and the Loan Aid Division that oversaw aid schemes, were consolidated, thereby strengthening the Country Assistance Planning Divisions. This organizational reform has made it possible to provide loan aid, grant aid, and technical cooperation in a unified manner through three Country Assistance Planning Divisions under the newly established Development Assistance Policy Coordination Division.
In addition, efforts are being made to further increase the collaboration among divisions related to bilateral cooperation and multilateral cooperation (through international organizations), strengthen the strategic nature of international cooperation, and implement more effective ODA. Moreover, by sharing information and views among related agencies, the knowledge and experience of those agencies are being reflected in ODA policies.