Advisor for strengthening of forest management, Ms. Yasuko Inoue, checking tree height measurement results with the local staff in a mangrove forest near Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. (Photo: Hikaru Nagatake / JICA)

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

A Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (mathematics and science teacher), Mr. Kotaro Kijima, giving advice to the students during an experiment lesson in Kabudula Secondary School in Malawi. (Photo: Kenshiro Imamura / JICA)

In 2013, Japan's gross ODA disbursements amounted to $22,526.99 million and were ranked second in the world, and Japan's net ODA disbursements amounted to $11,581.59 million and were ranked fourth in the world.

In 2013, Japan's gross ODA disbursements, which is the amount before repayment amounts of loan aid have been taken away, totaled approximately $22,526.99 million (¥2,198.4 billion), a 20.7% increase from the previous year. Bilateral ODA accounted for approximately $19,556.83 million (¥1,908.6 billion) of this amount.(Note 1) Furthermore, Japan's net bilateral ODA disbursements totaled approximately $8,611.43 million (¥840.4 billion). Contributions to international organizations amounted to approximately $2,970.16 million (¥289.9 billion). These figures make for a 9.2% increase from the previous year in overall ODA disbursements, reaching approximately $11,581.59 million (¥1,130.3 billion).(Note 2)

<Disbursement Analysis>

Japan's 2013 gross disbursements of ODA increased approximately 20.7% over the previous year. Japan remained at its 2012 ranking of second place among the member countries of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), behind the United States. In net disbursements, which increased approximately 9.2%, Japan ranked fourth behind the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.(Note 3)

Japan's ODA disbursements increased over the previous year mainly due to an increase in debt relief and an increase in the ODA loan disbursement amount. A breakdown of 2013 gross disbursements shows that bilateral ODA accounted for approximately 86.8% of overall disbursements, while ODA towards international organizations accounted for approximately 13.2%. A breakdown of net disbursements shows that bilateral ODA accounted for approximately 74.4% of overall disbursements, while ODA towards international organizations accounted for approximately 25.6%. Bilateral ODA is expected to strengthen Japan's relations with recipient countries. Meanwhile, ODA towards international organizations enables us to support international organizations which have expertise and political neutrality, and thereby, also support countries and regions where direct assistance from the Japanese government is difficult to reach. Japan is making every effort to ensure that its aid is provided properly, coordinating both aid types and making flexible use of aid.

Examining by aid scheme indicates that gross disbursements for bilateral ODA calculated as grant aid totaled approximately $7,031.92 million (¥686.3 billion), or approximately 31.2% of the total ODA disbursements. Among these grants, grant aid through international organizations accounted for approximately $1,636.33 million (¥159.7 billion), or approximately 7.3% of the total. Additionally, technical cooperation accounted for approximately $2,803.60 million (¥273.6 billion), or approximately 12.5% of the total. Government loan disbursements accounted for approximately $9,721.31 million (¥948.7 billion), or approximately 43.2% of the total. As for net disbursements, which is gross disbursements from which repayment amounts of government loans are subtracted, government loans accounted for approximately –$1,224.09 million (–¥119.5 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 (in the order of gross disbursements, net disbursements [including disbursements to graduated countries]):

◆Asia: $12,526.35 million ($3,448.73 million)

◆Middle East and North Africa: $2,258.79 million ($1,539.18 million)

◆Sub-Saharan Africa: $2,896.49 million ($2,136.93 million)

◆Latin America and the Caribbean: $387.51 million (-$34.14 million)

◆Oceania: $141.48 million ($121.64 million)

◆Europe: $64.00 million (-$3.28 million)

◆Assistance covering multiple regions: $1,314.57 million ($1,314.57 million)

1. Note 1: Gross and net disbursements are differentiated as follows: Net disbursements = gross disbursements-amount recovered (repayment amounts of government loans from recipient countries to donor countries) Net disbursements are usually used in international comparisons of aid disbursements.
2. Note 2: Excluding disbursements to graduated countries.
3. Note 3: Comparison is based on preliminary figures, except for Japan.

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