The Main Methods and Effectiveness of Japan's Official Development Assistance

Key Chapter Title List

1. Development Cooperation: The Development Cooperation Charter and Japan's ODA Allocation
2. 2024 Development Cooperation Practice: Supporting Ukraine, Palestine, and the Global South
3. Realizing a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP)
4. Addressing Global Issues: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and "Human Security"
5. Major Regional Cooperation Initiatives: East Asia and Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, Pacific Island Countries, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa
6. ODA Implementation and Transparency Assurance
7. Effective Implementation Pathways for ODA and International Discussions
8. Addressing Global Issues: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
9. Global Health
10. Environmental Issues and Climate Change
11. The Arctic and Antarctic
12. Science and Technology Diplomacy

Document Introduction

This report, based on the Japanese government's 2024 foreign policy document, systematically organizes and deeply analyzes the strategic positioning, policy framework adjustments, implementation pathways, and specific outcomes of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) against the backdrop of contemporary international complex crises. The report notes that 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of Japan's initiation of ODA, while the international community faces multiple crises including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and deteriorating Middle East situations. Japan's development cooperation has been reaffirmed as a key diplomatic tool for addressing global challenges and promoting national and global interests.

The report's core revolves around the revised "Development Cooperation Charter" from June 2023, explaining the new strategic direction of Japan's ODA. The revised charter establishes "co-creation" as the fundamental policy, aiming to pool the strengths of diverse actors, including developing countries, to jointly formulate solutions. It also proposes a "Co-Agenda Initiative Cooperation Menu," strategically combining ODA, other official funds, and private sector resources. In 2023, Japan's total ODA reached approximately $19.6 billion, accounting for 0.44% of Gross National Income (GNI). In terms of implementation, the report details Japan's key actions in 2024, including over $12 billion in assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries, addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, supporting food security in Global South countries, and strategically advancing the vision of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" through ODA, with investments in areas such as quality infrastructure, maritime security, and rule of law.

The report systematically evaluates the implementation priorities and outcomes of Japan's ODA by region. In East and Southeast Asia, through projects like the "Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Connectivity Initiative," physical and non-physical connectivity is strengthened, and maritime law enforcement capacity building is supported. In Southwest Asia, the focus is on connectivity, debt restructuring, and crisis response in countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In Pacific Island Countries, their unique vulnerabilities are addressed through the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting and the "Pacific Climate Resilience Initiative." In Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and other regions, cooperation spans multiple dimensions including healthcare, climate change, infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance.

Regarding institutional development, the report emphasizes Japan's efforts to ensure ODA transparency and effectiveness. This includes public review through the Development Project Accountability Committee, implementing ex-post third-party evaluations, and disclosing information via the "ODA Visualization Website." Simultaneously, to mobilize new resources, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the "New Development Finance Expert Panel" to explore using ODA as a catalyst to link private capital and the sustainable finance ecosystem. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary, Japan held a series of commemorative events and international symposiums aimed at enhancing domestic understanding and shaping international discourse.

The latter part of the report focuses on Japan's pathways for addressing global issues through development cooperation. This includes advancing the Sustainable Development Goals guided by the principle of "Human Security for a New Era"; in the health sector, strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response as well as Universal Health Coverage based on the 2022 "Global Health Strategy"; in the environment and climate fields, actively participating in negotiations for an international instrument on plastic pollution, promoting the implementation of the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework," and supporting developing countries' climate actions and Japan's own carbon neutrality goals through platforms like the "Asia Zero Emission Community" and the Joint Crediting Mechanism. Furthermore, the report outlines Japan's policies and engagement in frontier areas such as science and technology diplomacy and polar affairs.

Overall, this report reveals that Japan's ODA is transitioning from traditional aid to a more strategic, interconnected, and innovative form of "development cooperation." Its core purpose is to serve Japan's diplomatic strategy, shape an international order favorable to itself, while simultaneously responding to global public good needs. The report provides a key perspective for understanding the current interface between Japan's foreign economic and security policies.