Foreword
As a consequence of the progress of globalization, responding to global issues such as disparities and poverty, terrorism, refugees and displaced persons, climate change, issues related to the oceans including marine plastic litter, and infectious diseases has become an urgent challenge. Since it is difficult for one country alone to solve these challenge that transcend national borders, it is necessary for the entire international community, including Japan, to tackle them.
For many years, Japan has been advocating the principle of “human security,” which focuses on each and every individual, and advancing the building of a country and society through the protection and empowerment of individuals in which people are free from fear and want and are able to live in dignity. Moreover, from the perspective of making a proactive contribution to peace based on the principle of international cooperation, we have been providing assistance which is based on the modernization experience of Japan and adapted to the needs of the partner country.
The “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” unanimously adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015 set up the goal of realizing societies in which “no one will be left behind” in all countries, which include not only the developing countries but also the developed countries. The concept of “no one will be left behind” reflects the principle of “human security” so I am convinced that no country is better placed than Japan, which has advocated this principle for many years, to exercise leadership for the promotion of the SDGs in the international community.
Furthermore, in order to maintain and strengthen the free and open order based on the rule of law and improve connectivity through the quality infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan is accelerating its efforts to build multilayered cooperative relations and realize the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” through close collaboration with the United States, Australia, India, the ASEAN countries, the United Kingdom, France, the EU, and other related countries.
Meanwhile, 2018 was a year in which Japan was hit by many natural disasters, including heavy rain events and earthquakes, and support for the afflicted areas in Japan was required. Even though Japan is facing a severe fiscal situation, as a member of the international community, it will continue to tackle the global issues that can also have an impact on Japan, and actively contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of the international community, including the developing countries. The Government of Japan intends to work even harder to utilize its limited ODA budget strategically and effectively and produce proper results, while also obtaining the understanding of the people of Japan regarding the fact that providing ODA to developing countries also contributes to the national interest of Japan.
For that purpose, taking into account the recommendation by the Advisory Board for ODA, Japan will move forward from the ODA implementation structure in which the government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) play the central role, and tackle various development issues in close collaboration with diverse ODA implementing entities including private companies, NGOs, local governments, universities, and others, by utilizing their respective strengths. We have also carried out a revision of the JICA volunteer system.
This White Paper showcases Japan’s efforts related to development cooperation in 2018, along with examples of providing support to developing countries through local industry-government-academia cooperation that also resulted in the revitalization of these local areas. It also presents the achievements of the Japanese staff working at international organizations and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers who embody “Japan’s visible development cooperation.” If these columns serve as an opportunity to further deepen understanding of the people working hard on the front line of development cooperation, and provide encouragement to the people who are aiming to be active on the global stage in the future, then I could have no greater joy.
In 2019 the G20 Osaka Summit and the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) will be held in Japan, and the first SDGs Summit is scheduled at the United Nations in September. Japan will exert further leadership toward the solution of global issues through these kinds of international forums, with the understanding and support of the people of Japan.
March 2019
