Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2013
3. Requirements for Implementation of Strategic and Effective Assistance
In the “ODA Review Final Report” publicized in June 2010, in addition to enhancing the transparency (“visualization”) of aid including the evaluation results of aid projects, the PDCA cycle, consisting of project formation (Plan), implementation (Do), evaluation (Check), and follow-up (Act), was introduced with the aim of improving ODA accountability. Furthermore in January 2011, based on this policy, it was decided to (i) strengthen the PDCA cycle, (ii) strengthen the Program Approach, and (iii) reinforce “visualization.”
In April 2013, it was announced that further efforts would be made to strengthen the PDCA cycle, including setting the standard target values of grant aid, introducing the PDCA cycle to Grant Aid for Poverty Reduction Strategy, and introducing a four-grade evaluation system.
(1) Strategic Aid Implementation
●Program Approach
The Program Approach is an approach whereby the main development goals (program objectives) are shared through policy consultation with developing countries, from which point the specific ODA project is determined. For example, to achieve the goal of reducing the mortality rate of pregnant women in specific regions, one potential approach is to determine projects of hospital construction using grant aid and midwives training through technical cooperation. At present, trial programs are progressing in Indonesia, Tanzania and Ghana, and the experiences and results will also be utilized in assisting other countries.
●Country Assistance Policy
The Country Assistance Policy is Japan’s country-specific assistance policy formulated based on a consideration of the political and socio-economic circumstances as well as development plans and development issues, etc., of each recipient country. Japan aims to have such policies formulated for all recipient countries of Japan’s ODA in the course of three years from FY 2011. Japan will integrate past Country Assistance Programs for individual countries and the Rolling Plans that were formulated under them, reorganize them into a more concise and highly strategic plan, and strive to clarify the direction of development cooperation through “selection and concentration.”