(2) Main Points in the Revision
A. Basic Policies
One of the basic policies is to conduct development cooperation centered on human agency to ensure that each individual can live happily and with dignity, positioning “human security” in the new era as a guiding principle. Under this policy, Japan strives to work on “investment in people,” such as the protection and empowerment of individuals, and to work together in “solidarity” among diverse actors to achieve common goals.
The new Development Cooperation Charter introduces the concept of “co-creation,” with the aim of jointly creating new solutions and social values through dialogue and collaboration, placing developing countries at the core, and involving a variety of actors that each brings its strengths under equal partnerships. By bringing back home the new solutions and social values generated in this way, Japan also aims to develop human resources who will lead future generations in Japan and developing countries, and to lead them to solutions for Japan’s own economic and social challenges and economic growth.
The Charter also stipulates as a basic policy that, amid the increase in assistance to developing countries from a more diverse range of actors in addition to conventional donors, Japan, as an actor involved in development cooperation, will lead the dissemination and implementation of international rules and guidelines for development cooperation based on inclusiveness, transparency, and fairness, and will realize cooperation that does not undermine the independence and sustainability of developing countries.
B. Priority Policies
The Development Cooperation Charter sets out three priority policies.
The first priority policy is “‘Quality growth’ in the new era and poverty eradication through such growth.” In an era of multiple crises, “quality growth” that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient is becoming increasingly important. Based on this, the Charter highlights that Japan will cooperate to secure the foundation and driving force for economic growth, while also strengthening efforts to address challenges faced by developing countries, such as enhancing socio-economic autonomy and resilience in areas like food and energy security, as well as tackling new challenges such as digital transformation. Furthermore, considering the enormous demand for infrastructure in developing countries, Japan will combine cooperation on structural aspects, which makes use of its technological capabilities and knowledge, such as safety management, disaster risk reduction and resilience technologies, and addressing climate change and environmental issues, with cooperation on non-structural aspects, such as institutional development, participation in management and maintenance, and human resources development. In doing so, Japan will promote “quality infrastructure” through public-private collaboration.
The second priority policy is the “Realization of peaceful, secure, and stable societies, and maintenance and strengthening of a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” which is a prerequisite for “quality growth.” Under the vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” Japan will work to enable developing countries to enjoy the fruits of economic growth unaffected by force and coercion. To this end, Japan will promote cooperation in areas such as support for the development of legal systems, realization of good governance, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding, and the strengthening of maritime security capacities, working together with developing countries to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
The third priority policy is “Leading international efforts to addressing increasingly complex and serious global issues.” It is highlighted that Japan will strengthen efforts to accelerate initiatives in areas such as climate change and the environment, global health, disaster risk reduction, and education, which are urgent issues facing developing countries, while also actively contributing to international discussions on post-2030 development goals.
C. Implementation
In order to vigorously promote these priority policies, the Development Cooperation Charter sets three evolved approaches in terms of implementation.
Firstly, under “solidarity to realize co-creation,” Japan aims to strengthen cooperation for solidarity with various partners, including private companies, public financial institutions, etc., other donors, international organizations, civil society, local governments, universities and research institutions, human resources with knowledge about and affinity for Japan, and people of Japanese descent.
While the alignment of efforts toward the SDGs with corporate value has encouraged many private companies and investors to become more actively involved in addressing development challenges and to promote initiatives for realizing a sustainable society, the importance of private finance for developing countries has also increased. In light of this, Japan will introduce new ODA schemes to promote the mobilization of private finance and to strengthen synergies between public and private finance.
In addition, it is also important that various actors bring together their strengths and create solutions through dialogue and collaboration. These actors include NGOs and other civil societies that are adept at providing prompt cooperation that is attuned to local needs, local governments that have experience and expertise as the main providers of basic administrative services, and universities and research institutions.
Secondly, under “further enhancement of strategic approach,” Japan seeks to strengthen its strategic cooperation by launching a new “Co-creation for common agenda initiative” that proactively proposes cooperation menus, mobilizing the advantage of Japan’s areas of strengths. In the “Co-creation for common agenda initiative,” Japan will jointly formulate development cooperation goals in areas that should be strategically addressed in relation to foreign policy, as well as development scenarios and cooperation menus for the realization of cooperation, through dialogue and collaboration with the partner countries, and then propose and create attractive projects for partner countries that leverage Japan’s strengths. In doing so, Japan aims to maximize the impact of development by involving various actors, bringing together their respective strengths and combining them in various forms of cooperation.
Japan selects and announces areas that are strategically important based on its foreign policy, and focuses ODA-related resources and human capitals in these areas. This is intended to enhance the predictability of project implementation, thereby encouraging the participation of various actors, including private companies, in ODA projects (Chart I). By doing so, Japan aims to make its development cooperation more proactive and strategic in order to address challenges facing developing countries as well as its own challenges and economic growth.
Thirdly, Japan will work constantly for a renewed “fine-tuned system design that meets the objectives” with flexibility, efficiency, and promptness as keywords. This includes proposing comprehensive cooperation packages through the “Co-creation for common agenda initiative,” strategically utilizing grant aid and technical cooperation for countries with relatively high income levels, and improving methods for providing emergency humanitarian assistance. Particularly in collaborating with private companies, promptness is important; therefore the project formulation process for grant aid will be expedited, and the approval process for technical cooperation will be streamlined.
