On 26th February, JOICFP hosted the second in a series of six study sessions on ODA (click here for January's report).

Around 30 people attended to hear Nobuhito Hobo, Director-General, General Affairs Department, JICA, speak on how JICA has been reforming.

Since its re-launch as an independent administrative institution in 2003, JICA has pushed reforms in field-based management, human security, and effectiveness, efficiency and speed of ODA.

Hobo spoke about the current situation of ODA and how it would be affected by overall ODA reform, including MOFA's internal restructuring.

Commenting on a remark by the OECD that Japan would fall to the world's number five ODA donor (net disbursement base) from its current second place by 2010, Hobo echoed the concern.

Furthermore, he emphasized the necessity to increase the ODA budget to meet a pledge by the Prime Minister Koizumi at the Gleneagles G8 Summit in 2005 to boost ODA by US$10 billion over the next five years.

JICA & JBIC to merge

In 2008, a merger between JICA and JBIC will be complete, making the new JICA one of the world's biggest aid organizations after the World Bank.

JICA has sent nearly 200 additional personnel overseas, to strengthen field-based management, decentralize planning and improve aid implementation.

In addition, JICA will adopt new research activities to strengthen aid delivery. Hobo said that JICA needs to keep looking for better ways to use ODA, with the general public being made aware of this.

In a Q&A session, an NGO representative wondered how JICA reform will affect its relations with NGOs. Hobo said that JICA will strengthen NGO ties in a variety of ways and stressed the need to explore the possibility of goodwill donations from the public.

The next study session will be held on April 4th, with discussion on the role of civil society in ODA from the viewpoint of a journalist.

Nobuhito Hobo; Japan's ODA position
needs to be strengthened