Land Watch Asia

Issue Brief 5

A Scoping Study on Land Issues and Japanese ODA 1

I. Overview

apans economy is bouncing back; but Japanese NGOs think it

unlikely that Japan will increase its Official Development Assistance
(ODA) allocation from its national budget. Japan has not given a
timetable to increase its ODA to GNI ratio to 0.7% as provided in
international agreements. Guided by its revised ODA Charter, New
Medium Term Policy Paper and Country Assistance Programs,
Japans ODA is decentralized and its field offices are being
strengthened.
As of 2006, Japans net bilateral ODA disbursements approximated US$11,187 million (about 1,302 billion), a 14.9% reduction
compared with overall ODA disbursements in 2005. Loan aid still
dominates the bulk of Japanese ODA.
The top recipient of Japanese Grants Aid in 2006 was the African
region. Asia ranked second while the Middle East was third. Nigera
received the most Grant Aid. Iraq and Afghanistan were also among
the top recipients. Asian countries among the top 10 recipients of
Grants Aid in 2006 were Bangladesh and Pakistan. Cambodia and
Nepal were among the top 20 grant aid recipients. Other countries
like Indonesia, Philippines, and Cambodia were top recipients of technical cooperation type of Japanese ODA.
While Japans ODA may have leaned towards infrastructure and
tied aid, civil society organizations (CSOs) can hope that Japan will
adhere to its policy pronouncements on poverty and human security.
Food security needs to be defined as part of human security. CSOs
should offer a program genuinely geared toward poverty reduction
especially for land-poor farmers, and challenge the sustainable
growth framework of Japans ODA. Japan has extended modest financial assistance for agriculture and rural development, and a strategic combination of the different funding support programs of
Japans ODA, either at the country or regional level, must be devised
to support a regional advocacy on land rights.

Recent Developments in Japanese ODA

for a Regional Engagement on Land Rights
A regional advocacy on land rights should take advantage of the
reforms being considered by Japan such as the formulation of coher-

ent aid policy; collaboration among related government ministries

and agencies; collaboration between government and implementing
agencies; enhancing policy consultations; strengthening functions at
the field level; and cooperation with aid-related entities within and
outside of Japan. CSOs need to engage Japans ODA and challenge
the government to set up meaningful mechanisms for increased CSO
participation in ODA planning, implementation and evaluation,
through Japans ODA Task Forces.
Tatsuya Watanabe2 of Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) said that after a decade of recession and seeming
mismanagement, Japans economy is bouncing back. But ODA has not
benefited from the recovery. Japans allocation for aid has been
slashed seven years in a row up to FY2006.
In 2005, Japan was the second major donor based on net ODA
among 22 Development Assistance Countries (DAC), although it was
the sixth lowest in terms of ODA contribution against Gross National
Income (GNI).3
Unlike other G7 countries except the US, Japan has not set a
timetable to attain the 0.7% GNI to ODA ratio provided in
international agreements.4 It then came as a surprise when Prime
Minister Koizumi revealed a plan in 2005 to increase its aid by $10
billion, or more than double, in five years.

Policy Documents
Japans ODA implementation is guided by three main policy
documents.

1. Japans Revised ODA Charter (2003)

Basic Policies
Supporting self-help efforts by developing countries;
Enhancing human security;
Assuring fairness;
Utilizing Japans experience and expertise;
Partnership and collaboration with the international
community.
Priority Issues
Poverty Reduction
Sustainable Growth
Addressing Global Issues
Peace-building

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2. New Medium-Term ODA Policy Paper (2005)

The Medium-Term Policy on ODA was reformulated in February
20055 to dovetail with the ODA Charter that was revised in 2003.
The policy will guide development and implementation of country
assistance programs and sectoral/thematic policies for the next
three to five years. It singles out human security6 from the five
basic tenets7 of the revised Charter and emphasizes the peoplecenteredness of Japanese assistance. The Charter mentions MDGs
for the first time when it discusses the four priority issues.8 The
global issues of environmental problems and natural disasters are
given importance because these are seen as the areas where Japan
has comparative advantage and expertise. Strengthening functions
at the field level is emphasized for effective and efficient aid
implementation.

3. Japans Country Assistance Program/SectorSpecific

Initiative
Japans Country Assistance Programs (CAPs) provide guidelines
for the formulation of projects in a specific country.
The ODA Charter established country-based ODA Task Forces
(ODATFs) consisting of Japans overseas diplomatic missions and
the field offices of implementing agencies. Among the ODATFs
roles are to participate in the formulation of CAPs and consult
with recipient governments to foster shared perspectives on
policies. ODATFs are operational in 74 countries.9
Donor coordination at the local level has become important
for Japans ODA since Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers ( PRSPs)
have been formulated and implemented in cooperation with
donors and other related organizations under the ownership of
recipient countries and are now in the process of preparing and
revising them. This concept of ownership, however, has been
criticized by some NGOs as not being representative of
communities own understanding of ownership.10
The ODA Task Forces have expanded their responsibility to
include information disclosure and public information or
relations (Japans ODA White Paper 2007).
CAPs need to be refined to become more operational. If these
programs become reliable and serve as good references in reviewing
ODA implementation, they can play a key role in coordination with
governments. Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and
the Philippines have country-based Japan ODATFs, but only Nepal
does not have a Country Assistance Program as of 2006.
Meanwhile, the Sector-Specific Initiative describes the basic
principles of Japans aid policies. As of 2006, sector-specific
initiatives had been formulated for nine sectors: gender, education,
health care, water and sanitation, environment, governance,
trade and investment, disaster prevention, and Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs). Land issues can be a specific
initiative of Japans ODA, in line with agriculture development and
food security.
The implementation of Japans ODA was synchronized to
reflect Japans attempt at harmonization and coherence of its
ODA Charter and the new Medium-Term Policy on ODA, and its
recent desire to decentralize implementation through the
Country Assistance Programs.

J APANESE ODA

Implementation of the new ODA charter provides a pyramidstyle policy framework for ensuring coherence. At the top is the
ODA Charter which sets forth basic objectives and priorities,
followed by ODA Medium-Term Policies, detailing priority issues
and regions. Below these levels are country assistance programs
to major recipient countries.

II. Possible Processes within

Japanese ODA to Support a
Regional CSO Advocacy on Land
Rights
Japans Support for Agriculture and Rural
Development
Japanese ODA Policy on Agriculture and Rural
Development
For Japan, raising agricultural productivity is important in the
development of rural areas. Japan aims to support the formulation
of agriculture-related policy, improvement of infrastructure such as
irrigation and farm roads, dissemination and research development
of production technologies, and strengthening of community
organizations. Assistance will be provided to foster economic
activities in rural areas.
Japan recognizes the importance of cooperation on agricultural
issues and will work to address food shortages globally and domestically.
In the short term, Japan aims to provide food assistance to avert
humanitarian disasters. In the longer term, to prevent and eliminate
the causality of food shortages, Japan will attempt to support policymaking in agriculture to improve productivity; develop infrastructure
like irrigation facilities and rural roads; disseminate agricultural
production technology; and strengthen local organizations.
However, there is no mention of access to land or food security in
Japans ODA Policy on agriculture and rural development.

Disbursements to Agriculture
Japan has been implementing aid in the form of grants and yen loans
for agriculture. Its assistance for agriculture and fisheries in 2005
was approximately 110.9 billion, the highest among DAC countries.
In FY2006 Japan provided approximately 14.6 billion in grant
aid and approximately 98.6 billion in loan aid. The Grant Assistance
for Underprivileged Farmers accounted for approximately 4.8 billion
and Grant Aid for Fisheries for approximately 4.6 billion.
Japan also actively provides assistance for agriculture through
international organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Land Watch Asia should thus note the emphasis given by Japans
ODA to agriculture, and formulate a program towards strengthening
farmers organizations with access to land as a strategy for agricultural
productivity and sustainability, either through a NGO in a specific
country or through international organizations.

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Japans Support through Its Experience and

Knowledge
Japan has provided technical assistance to support farmers
involvement in participatory water management organizations and
capacity development in the paddy field zones in Thailand,
Cambodia, and other countries in the Asian monsoon region.
Japans ODA supports the development of farmer organizations,
fostering farmer participation and collaboration with local
governments and enhancing their self-reliance.
Japan also advances its Integrated Agricultural and Rural
Development cooperation with international organizations.
But there seems to be no support yet in the area of access to land.
An extensive review of past projects related to agriculture has to be
done to look into the gains of such projects.
Using the approach of Japanese ODA which utilizes Japanese
expertise, support for a regional advocacy would have to be sought
and lodged strategically at the national level during the initial stage.
Each advocacy should be brought together through a regional policy
conference conducted in a particular country.
Another option would be to work through a partner-Japanese
NGO which will bring together experts from Japan and the involved
country, making use of other Japanese ODA funding windows
available to Japanese NGOs. As a complement to the policy dialogues,
regional studies on landlessness and land issues in selected Asian
countries may be undertaken.
ANGOC shall strive to work on the themes of food security and
access to land through the ASEANJapan Dialogue, the South Asia
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the Ministers for
Agrarian Reform and Rural Development involved.
Based on Japans ODA policy pronouncement on agriculture and
rural development, discussions on agricultural productivity, food
security and access to land may possibly be taken up in the form of
policy dialogues.

Japans Support for Environmental

Concerns
Japans ODA will build the capacity of developing countries to
address environmental problems. An advocacy on land looking at the
effects on the environment of land conversion and other types of
unsustainable practices of managing agricultural and forest lands
can also be explored under any of the Japanese ODA schemes.

Japan ODAs General Focus on Poverty

Japan adheres to the protection of human rights of the poor and the
promotion of democratic processes. It is therefore worth exploring
the utilization of Japan ODA to support policy dialogues at the
country and regional levels on access to land.
A regional advocacy on land rights can expect more flexible
support from Japanese ODA based on the Medium-Term Policy

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Paper. Proposals can be for data collection on a wide range of

information regarding actual conditions of the poor, especially
land-poor farmers, which can be done through networking with
governments, NGOs, universities, research institutions and private
enterprises. Based on the analyses of information on land-poor
farmers, specific types of assistance will be proposed on specific
land rights issues. A combination of various schemes of Japanese
ODA can then be proposed to support a land rights advocacy.

Opportunities for Civil Society

Engagement, Relations with NGOs and
Communities
Japan seems to be increasingly working with NGOs, universities, local
governments, international organizations, and private sector enterprises.

Basic Policy of Government in Collaborating with

NGOs
The Japanese government wants stronger coordination with NGOs.
To bolster the activities of Japanese NGOs, the Government provides
financial support for NGO activities overseas, dialogue and
cooperation with NGOs, and other efforts to strengthen Japanese
NGOs. The Government of Japan provides the following financial
support for the activities of Japanese NGOs:
Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects
Established in FY2002, for Japanese NGOs that carry out
economic or social development activities in developing
countries or regions.
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Partnership
Program
Implemented between Japanese NGOs and JICA, which collaborate
on technical transfer projects with a direct effect on improving the
lives of local residents in developing countries. The Government
assists Japanese NGOs in building their own capabilities.
Projects for Creating Environments for NGO Activities
In view of the common concerns of Japanese NGOs and current
international trends in assistance, MOFA in FY2006 convened
NGO Study Groups on four themes: the role of educational
assistance in disaster recovery, protection while providing
humanitarian relief, fundraising, and the role of network NGOs.

Dialogue and Coperation between NGOs and the

Government in Japan
The Government promotes dialogue and cooperation with NGOs in
Japan. MOFA has been organizing the NGOMOFA Regular Meetings
since 1997 to proactively discuss ODA policy and the Grant Assistance
for Japanese NGO Projects. In developing countries, a system known
as ODA Embassies has been in operation whereby embassy officials,
JICA, and NGO personnel hold consultations to make development
assistance more effective and efficient.
Additionally, the Japan Platform (JPF) was founded in 2000
through close coordination among NGOs, government and business
circles. A total of 25 participating NGOs in the JPF swiftly launch and

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implement emergency humanitarian assistance activities using public

and private funding.

J APANESE ODA

basic land rights of already impoverished communities, especially in

Bangladesh and Cambodia. Table 1 contains a description of the
general approaches of Japans ODA in selected countries.11

Collaboration with the Academe and Local

Governments
In FY2006, JICA collaborated with the academe in various technical
assistance projects. Collaboration with universities will be further
promoted. Several collaborations with local governments were also
launched. These were associated with loan aid projects in cooperation
with experts of local governments and universities.

Collaboration with Local Governments of Developing

Countries and with Overseas NGOs
Japan provides assistance to projects implemented by local
governments and NGOs through Grant Assistance for Grassroots
Human Security Projects (GGP). Large-scale government projects are
not eligible for this instrument.

Collaboration with the Private Sector

An example is the Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) on
loan aid program introduced in 2002. This uses Japanese advanced
technologies and expertise to promote technical transfer to
developing countries.

Participation in Country Assistance Programs and

Activities/Consultations by Country-based Task Forces
The seeming decentralization of Japans ODA provides more leeway
for CSOs overseas to influence Japans ODA through the ODATFs.
Some key activities where CSOs may engage the ODATFs are:
Examine detailed formulation and selection of ODA Projects.
ODATFs will make proposals to Tokyo regarding the order of
priority of candidate projects.
Participate in formulation or revision of CAPs.
Advocates can make sure that access to land or land rights are
made part of projects for agricultural and rural development,
food security, or sustainable development.
Engage in policy consultations.
ODATFs along with participants from Tokyo as necessary will
undertake policy consultations with recipient countries so that
the position on the medium-term measures specified in Country
Assistance Programs and assistance policies for priority issues
and specific sectors are reflected in the formulation, request and
implementation of projects. Also, ODA Task Forces are said to
actively participate in locally-held policy consultations. It is
important for CSO organizations to work with ODATFs through
policy consultations. The key is to contact responsible Embassy
representatives to include land rights issues in the consultations,
if the issue is not yet discussed at the country level.

Japans Aid to Different Countries

The Reality of Aid Network reported that a number of Japans ODA
support, which tended to lean towards infrastructure, had violated

III. Reformed Japanese ODA

Prospects
General Outlook
The new charter indicates that Japans ODA will respond more
effectively to the needs and concerns of people in developing
countries, as well as to the interests of the Japanese people. Some
Japanese NGOs perceive that as the ODA budget is not expected to
increase in the foreseeable future, Japan ODAs objectives are bound
to be more prioritized and focused. This trend will most likely take a
two-pronged approach: coping with international development
values and targets, and addressing public concern for Japans
national interests.
On the level of formulation and implementation, the Japanese
government can be expected to surrender its monopoly over ODA, by
decentralizing the system and enlarging the partnership with other
stakeholders. Partnerships with other stakeholders will be strengthened
both on the donor side and the recipient side.
In sum, partnership and decentralization should be regarded as
the keys to a renewed dynamism for Japans Official Development
Assistance (ODA) in the years to come.

Advocacy Agenda and Strategic Action

for Land Watch Asia
The figure in the next page shows key strategies for civil societys
engagement of Japans ODA on land rights and issues, either by
opening up or enlarging spaces for policy dialogues.

Combination of Approaches and Funding

Schemes
To maximize the effect of Japanese ODA as a whole, it is important to
effectively combine ODA schemes to support a regional advocacy on
land issues. ODATFs for example are making efforts to form concrete
model projects for combining different ODA schemes in recipient
countries where all three schemesgrant aid, yen loans and technical
cooperationare implemented, while clarifying the appropriate
division of roles among the three. In addition, ODA-TFs are mandated
to formulate concrete proposals on the need and possibility of
revising ODA schemes. Thus, CSOs should consider a combination of
possible ODA schemes to support different strategies and proposals

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Table 1. General Approaches of Japans ODA in Selected Asian Countries

Country

NGO Views on Japanese Bilateral Aid in Selected Asian Countries

Bangladesh

Although it seems that Japan has no particular interest in or benefit from Bangladesh, it has been the countrys
largest source of bilateral aid from 1992 to 2005.
Japanese aid was mainly on infrastructure, such as the Jamuna Bridge, considered an icon of Japan ODA. The construction of this bridge however was met with resistance in the country since it transformed the biodiversity rich flood plain
economy into industrial zones, integrating an unsustainable urbanization.
Support for micro-credit programmes has become another symbol of Japans aid to Bangladesh, although some NGOs
report that the poverty alleviation aspect of micro-credit seems to be wanting.

Cambodia

Cambodian NGOs indicate that Japanese aid has not adequately considered the needs and priorities of Cambodia,
while the importance of roads to economic development have been overemphasized.
NGOs recommend that Japan should understand that democracy in Cambodia is still in its infancy and should respect
the importance of consulting different stakeholders for development projects. Proactive intervention by the Japanese
government to promote democracy and human rights, especially land rights, is also essential.
Aid to Cambodia should be based on the interests of the people of Cambodia. What is needed is improvement in
quality rather than quantity of aid.

India

Japans vision of the Indian economy appears to be neoliberal, and the relationship between India and Japan is said to
be a typical trade relationship between a developed and a developing country.
Aid, as an outright grant component of Japans ODA to India, is generally very low and usually given for disasters. Some
critics say Japans aid would have served a more permanent purpose if given for rehabilitation. It is important to know
who determines the priorities.
In terms of loans, there seems to be a major consideration for the development of power projects in India.
There seems to be a trend of Japanese capital investment in the manufacture of goods and products, services and commercial activities. Critics challenge Japan to heed the call for popular democracy rather than formal market democracy.

Indonesia

Indonesia has been the largest recipient of Japanese ODA since 1967. Japan ODA loans are concentrated in the infrastructure and industrial sectors.
Japans ODA loans to Indonesia have had a high level of tied aid where Japanese companies largely benefit from
contracts.
Japan needs to address several key issues of the quality of aid, its conditionality, and the ownership of the aid. Critics
suggest the following: (i) independent audit of the procurement result; (ii) independent assessment of the procurement
outcome and its impact on the local economy and the industry; and (iii) independent assessment of the IMF program
in Indonesia.

Nepal

Japans involvement in Nepal started to increase in the 1960s. Japanese ODA has focused on human resource development, social sector activities, infrastructure development, agriculture, infrastructure development, and environment
conservation and cultural activities.
There is a perceived lack of transparency of contracts and agreements, as NGOs have met difficulty in accessing documents relating to Japanese ODA.
To make Japanese ODA more relevant and effective, Nepalese NGOs recommend the development of effective complaint
procedures, mechanisms and remedies for people who claim to be negatively affected by Japanese ODA.

Philippines

Japan was the largest source of development assistance to the Philippines from 1960 to 2003, and again in 2006. The
Philippines is one of the top recipients of Japans ODA among Asian countries.12
Development assistance can help reduce poverty if properly selected and implemented in the form of grants to social
and economic development programs that were designed with the participation of recipient communities and sectors,
and implemented in a transparent manner. Such programs can include agricultural productivity with provision for
access to land and ensuring land rights as a program towards poverty reduction. The program can graduate to sustainable livelihood once provision for access to land has been ensured.

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on land rights, taking advantage of the more progressive policy

pronouncements in Japans ODA, such as:
1. Research through Technical Cooperation Aid or JICA Partnership Program
Before projects are formulated, there must be research to
determine the poverty situation of each country and region and
to analyze the needs of the land-poor in the countries of concern
on the part of CSOs.
2. Capacity-building for Local Governments and NGOs and Policy
Reform Dialogues Towards Agricultural Productivity and
Protection of Land Rights through Technical Cooperation and
other Funding Windows
CSOs can explore assistance to establish institutions and policies
to reduce poverty. It is important for CSOs to talk with their
governments on how to include land rights/access to land as part
of capacity-building efforts for government officials themselves.
3. Advocate for Direct Assistance to the Poor in Sustaining
Livelihoods through the Development of Mechanisms that Help
Provide Access to Land Together with Assistance for Smallscale Infrastructure Development
4. Participate in assessment of ODA projects with special
attention to land rights issues and propose amendments to
ODA implementation in the country.

J APANESE ODA

the merger of promotion of Japans trade and economic activities

overseas and economic cooperation with developing countries
under JBIC has given rise to a concern that the integrity of ODA
might be affected, since ODA loans are now implemented as part
of the various financial instruments of JBIC.

3. Private-sector vs. Development-orientation

In October 2003, JICA was reborn as the Independent
Administrative Institutions (IAIs) with greater autonomy which
is expected to give JICA renewed incentives and creativity in its
work on technical cooperation and grant assistance.

4. National Interest vs. International Development

Targets
The charter intentionally avoids the term national interest,
given that its meaning varies depending on who interprets it. This
is instead substituted by the phrase to ensure Japans security
and prosperity. The charter makes clear that national interests
do not override the objectives of ODA.
The revised text could not escape certain compromises,
made evident by the inclusion of several short paragraphs
acknowledging differing views about the objectives of Japans
ODA, international development targets, and peace-building.

IV. Issues and Challenges

5. Food Security as Part of Human Security
1. Poverty Reduction vs. Sustainable Growth
The current poverty reduction strategy excels in many ways over
past development strategies. However, any development strategy
should allow for alternatives or sufficient leeway to reflect the
conditions in developing countries.13 As donors agendas may
inadvertently camouflage what a developing country really
wants to achieve, the recipient country should always remain in
the drivers seat.
Access to land and land rights and access to other productive
assets are not recognized in the discussions on poverty reduction
by Japanese ODA. The New Medium-Term Policy Paper describes
Japans development framework as what appears to be growth at
all costs, viewing sustainable growth as a precursor for poverty
reduction. However, the more basic issue of access to productive
assets (such as land and other land rights issues) may be totally
forgotten in the poverty analysis of land-poor farmers once such
framework is used.

2. Merger of JBIC and JICA Affecting ODA

Implementation
In recent years, coherence between the government and two
implementation agencies, JBIC and JICA, has been evolving towards
a more systematic assignment of responsibilities. But the Japanese
NGO community seems more apprehensive than appreciative as
recommended reforms have not been implemented. Additionally,

Based on the Japanese ODAs understanding, human security is a

concept that focuses on the protection of individuals from
threats like poverty, conflicts, and infectious diseases. Food
security, including land rights and access to land, should be
discussed as part of human security linked with poverty.

6. Support for NGO-initiated Programs

Other than the GGP, there is little room for NGOs to access
Japanese fund for programs. Moreover, NGOs, when tapped by
Japanese funding agencies, will always be perceived as
contractors, i.e., implementing programs designed by the
Japanese government.

7. Openness and Support for Policy Dialogues

While in principle Japans ODA is expected to undertake more
policy consultations at the field level, there is no established
mechanism for such consultations. CSOs must help open up and
enlarge these spaces for dialogues and make Japans ODA more
transparent and accountable, and help ODA perform its ideal
tasks. Thus, Japans ODA should do its part by supporting efforts
to create spaces for dialogue.

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Figure 1. Strategic Points for Advocacy on Land Rights vis--vis the Japanese ODA Decentralization Mode

Country-based ODA task force *

Local aid
community
(including other
donors and NGOs)

Aid coordination

Embassy

Exchange
of opinions

Work in union
JICA offices
(including JICA
experts)

Strengthen functions
at the field level
(including respecting
proposals of ODA
Task Forces) **

MOFA

JBIC offices
Locally-based
policy consultation

Reports
and
proposals ***

JICA headquarters

Recipient
governments

Open up and
participate in
dialogues
Propose projects:
(a) Research on land
and poverty, FS,
AP, SL
(b) Policy conference
on land
rights/access to
land

Participation
from Tokyo as
necessary

JBIC headquarters

Open up and enlarge

space for dialogue

Consultation

Concerned
ministries and
agencies

* Comprised mainly of embassies, JICA and JBIC offices (JETRO also often participates). Since March 2003 up to August 2005, country-based ODA
task forces were set up for 68 countries.
** This means strengthening the function of ODA task forces, which are in a position to most directly grasp the bilateral relations between Japan and
recipient countries, the development needs which take into account the recipient countries political, economic, and social conditions, and the
situation of aid, and in so doing further strengthening policy-making and implementation capacity aimed toward more efficient and effective
implementation of aid.
*** Reports and proposals concerning the research and analysis of development needs, etc. formulation and consideration of country-specific assistance
policies, combination and revision of ODA schemes and formulation, selection, and implementation of specific projects.

Propose projects on
strengthening
agricultural
productivity, i.e.
farming sustems
approach
Propose ammendments to ODA
schemes

Legend: FSFood Security, ARAgrarian Reform, SLSustainable Livelihoods

Endnotes
1

5
6

Abridged from the paper prepared by Faina LuceroDiola entitled

ANGOC Scoping Study on Land Issues and Japanese ODA, 2008.
Watanabe, Tatsuya, Japan NGO Center For International Cooperation
(JANIC), Reality of Aid Reports 2006, http://www.realityofaid.org/
roareport.php?table=roa2006&id=32
See http: //www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/develop/oda/tables/
aidbydonor.htm
The latest authoritative statement was made by Prime Minister Koizumi
in April 2005 when he said Japan will continue its efforts towards the
goal of providing ODA of 0.7% of our GNI in order to contribute to the
MDGs. (Watanabe, Tatsuya, Reality of Aid Reports 2006).
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/mid-term/policy.pdf
By human security, the Government means protecting individuals from
fears, such as conflict, terrorism, crime, human-rights violation, displacement, disease epidemics, environmental destruction, economic
crises and natural disasters, and wants, such as poverty, hunger and

lack of educational and health services, and empowering people so that

they can choose and take action against these threats.
7 The other four are: i) supporting self-help efforts of developing countries; (ii) assurance of fairness [impact on the environment and society,
the perspective of gender equality, etc.]; (iii) utilization of Japans experience and expertise; and (iv) partnership and collaboration with the
international community.
8
The policy says Japan will contribute actively to achieving the MDGs,
including through effective use of ODA.
9
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/white/2007/ODA2007/html/honpen/
index.htm
10
Raised by IBON Foundation, secretariat of the Reality of Aid network,
in a dialogue between representatives of the PhilippineJapan Partnership Network and representatives of the Embassy of Japan in Manila, June 2008.
11
Based mostly on the Reality of Aid Asia-Pacific Report 2005 and Japan
ODA: Development or Profit. 2001 published by the Asia Pacific Research Network.

8
12
13

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http://www.neda.gov.ph/progs_prj/15thODA/15th_odamain.htm
See Shigeru Ishikawa, Sekaiginkou no kokusai kaihatsu seisaku
minaoshi to nihon no ODA (The revision of the World banks International Development policy and Japan with the front-runners, driven by
national pride and desire for industrialization.), p. 22.

References
Diola, F. (2007). Philippine and Japanese NGOs contributions to poverty
alleviation and funding support mechanisms for partnerships. Manila:
Philippine-Japan Partnership Network (PJP).
Government of Japan. (2001). Japan ODA: development or profit 2001. Manila: Asia Pacific Research Network.
. (2003). Japans revised ODA charter.
. (2005). Japans official development assistance white paper. Retrieved from http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/white/2005/ODA2005/
html/honpen/index.htm
. (2005, February). Japans medium-term policy on official development assistance (ODA). Retrieved from http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/
mid-term/policy.pdf

This issue brief is made possible with the support of the International Land Coalition (ILC), MISEREOR, and Action Aid
International (AAI). The views and the information provided
in this issue brief do not necessarily reflect the views or policies
of ILC, MISEREOR, and AAI.

The International Land Coalition is a

global alliance of civil society and intergovernmental organizations working together to promote secure
and equitable access to and control over land for poor women
and men through advocacy, dialogue and capacity building.

As the overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Germany, MISEREOR works in partnership with all people of goodwill to promote development,
fight worldwide poverty, liberate people from injustice, exercise solidarity with the poor and persecuted, and help create
One World.

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty

agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide. Formed in 1972, it has been helping over 13 million of
the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people to fight for
their rights to food, shelter, work, education, healthcare and
participation in 42 countries worldwide.

J APANESE ODA

. (2007) Japans official development assistance white paper. Retrieved from http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/white/2007/index.htm
IBON. (2005). The reality of aid asia-pacific report 2005. Manila: IBON
Books, IBON Foundation.
Ito, M. (2008, July) Country Assistance Program for the Philippines, January
2007 (personal communication from M. Ito., ACC21). Japan.
Kazuo, S. (2003, November). A foundation for advanced studies in international development (FASID) discussion paper on japanese ODA.
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). (2006). (15th Ed.) Annual ODA portfolio review. Retrieved July 2008 from http://
www.neda.gov.ph/progs_prj/15thODA/15th_odamain.htm
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD. 2005.
Statistical annex of the 2005 development cooperation report. Retrieved from http: //www.globalpolicy.org
Watanabe,T. Japan NGO Center For International Cooperation (JANIC). Reality of aid reports. (2006). Retrieved from (http://www.realityofaid.org/
roareport.php?table=roa2006&id=32)

Founded in 1979, ANGOC is a regional association of 20 national and

regional networks of non-government organizations (NGO) in Asia actively engaged in food security, agrarian reform, sustainable agriculture,
participatory governance and rural development. ANGOC member networks and partners work in 14 Asian countries with an effective reach of
some 3,000 NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs). ANGOC
actively engages in joint field programs and policy debates with national governments,
intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and international financial institutions (IFIs).
ANGOC is a founding member of the International Land Coalition (ILC) and coordinator of the Land Watch Asia (LWA) campaign.

Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

6-A Malumanay Street, U.P. Village, Diliman 1101, Quezon City, Philippines
P.O. Box 3107, QCCPO 1101, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: +6324337653/ 9293019
Fax: +6329217498
E-mail: angoc@angoc.ngo.ph/ angoc27@gmail.com
URL: www.angoc.ngo.ph

LandWatch Asia (LWA) is a regional campaign to ensure that access to land, agrarian reform and sustainable development for
the rural poor are addressed in national and regional development agenda. The campaign involves civil society organizations in six (6) countriesBangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines. LWA aims
to take stock of significant changes in the policy and legal environments; undertake strategic national and regional advocacy activities on access to land; jointly
develop approaches and tools; and encourage the sharing of experiences on coalition-building and actions on land rights issues.