Part II Japan’s Collective Efforts: Development Cooperation Hand-in-Hand with the Japanese People
The Nhat Tan Bridge (Viet Nam - Japan Friendship Bridge) crossing the Red River in the capital of Viet Nam Hanoi. (Photo: JICA)
Chapter 1 Growing Presence of Various Development Actors
A Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (occupational therapist), Ms. Chika Hashimoto visits people with disabilities in their homes and provides rehabilitation support as well as guidance to their families and local people as part of the assistance for promotion of community based rehabilitation (CBR) activities in Panama. (Photo: Maximo Novas)
In the international community today, various actors including the private sector, local governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are involved in global activities and play important roles in addressing development challenges and promoting sustainable growth in developing countries. Japanese companies conducting business in developing countries also take part in development activities in increasingly diverse contexts; some provide development assistance as part of their corporate social responsibility activities, while others treat these activities as a vital part of their business. Synergy can be produced if diverse actors take various approaches that draw on their respective areas of strength. Japan’s Official Development Assistance Charter was revised and renamed the Development Cooperation Charter in February 2015. The new Charter sets out that “All-Japan” cooperation involving private companies, local governments, and NGOs should be promoted. The following special article introduces development cooperation activities that are implemented hand-in-hand with a variety of partners whose presence in this field is growing.