Global Festa, the new name for the International Cooperation Festival, is the biggest event concerning international cooperation in Japan. Held on 1st and 2nd October in a park in central Tokyo, it was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC).

The objective of the festival was to increase public understanding and support for cooperation in development, including for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This year of 2005 is considered to be a turning point for achieving the MDGs since their aims are not widely known or recognized by the public at large.

JOICFP took part in the event with the easy-to-understand message of "One woman per minute loses her life due to pregnancy or childbirth related complications." The message was decided upon as a result of experience gained from the Aichi EXPO in May.

A visitor tries on a pregnancy simulator
to get some understanding of the difficulties
women face during pregnancy

Many visitors were moved by JOICFP's message and asked how they could assist in JOICFP's activities.

Through the festival, JOICFP was able to raise awareness of the situation of safe motherhood in developing countries, and gain support for the White Ribbon Alliance.

Selling fair trade coffee at JOICFP' s booth
attracted many people