The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is a governmental agency that coordinates Official Development Assistance for the Government of Japan. It is one of the largest bilateral development organizations in the world, with a network in over 150 countries. JICA aims to contribute to international development and address global issues by supporting socioeconomic development and recovery in developing nations. It provides various forms of aid, including technical cooperation, loans, and grants. Key areas of JICA's work include private sector development, agriculture, urban development, poverty reduction, and energy. The document then outlines JICA's country assistance policy and priorities in the Philippines, which include promoting investment and economic growth, reducing vulnerability to risks, and supporting peace and development in Mindanao

1. Japan International
Cooperation Agency
AMYR YASHEEN F. DUMAMA
MPA-1

2. About JICA
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is a governmental agency that coordinates
Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the Government of Japan.
• The current organization was established in 2003, and replaced a semigovernmental
organization formed in 1974 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. JICA
is one of the largest bilateral development organizations in the world with a network of
97 overseas offices, projects in more than 150 countries, and available financial
resources of approximately 1 trillion Japanese yen ($8.5 billion).
• JICA aims to contribute to the promotion of international development cooperation and
addressing the global agenda by supporting the socioeconomic development, recovery
and economic stability of developing countries. The Official Development Assistance
coordinated by JICA is broadly divided into bilateral aid, in which assistance is given
directly to developing countries, and multilateral aid, provided through international
organizations. JICA distributes its aid in the form of Technical Cooperation (including
technical cooperation projects), ODA Loans, and Grant Aid. In 2008, Japan contributed,
on a net disbursement basis, approximately US$6,641 million (¥68.74 billion) in bilateral
ODA and approximately US$2,721 million (¥28.16 billion) in contributions and donations
to international organizations.

3. Areas of work
• JICA works with a range of thematic issues including the following: •
Private Sector Development
• Agricultural/Rural Development
• Urban/Regional Development
• Poverty Reduction
• Natural Resources and Energy
• Economic Policy

4. Eligibility for JICA funding
• JICA implements projects in more than 150 countries in 5 continents.
The list of countries in Europe includes the following UNECE member
States with economies in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, and Ukraine.

5. Cooperation
1. Technical Cooperation Project
2. Individual Technical Cooperation
3. Training Program
4. NGO Support Program
5. Development Study
6. Yen Loan Program
7. Survey and Administration of General Grant Aid Program (GGAP)
8. Dispatch of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV)

6. Country Assistance Policy for the Republic of
the Philippines

7. 1. Relevance of Assistance
• The Philippines lies along vital sea lanes and is thus an important country in
geographical and regional security terms. Therefore, sustainable growth of
the Philippines will contribute to the stability and the development in the East
Asian region. Moreover, the Philippines is an important partner in East Asia
for Japan in the context wherein the two countries share the same values
including democracy and market economy, as well as common strategic
interests. In September 2011, Japan and the Philippines confirmed in the
Japan-Philippines Joint Statement that the relations between the two
countries have already developed into a “Strategic Partnership.”

8. 1. Relevance of Assistance
• Japan and the Philippines have close economic relations. As many
Japanese companies have established their bases in the Philippines,
the Philippines provides a solid base for Japan’s economic activities.
In December 2011, the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership
Agreement also came into effect. Furthermore, the two countries
have the existing foundation of the broad range of people-to-people
exchange. The Japanese society, which faces the issues of a declining
birthrate and an aging population, can further develop a
complementary relationship with the Philippine society, which has a
large younger population.

9. 1. Relevance of Assistance
• Overall, the Philippines is at the stage of entering into a middle-income
economy. The Philippines’ GNI (Gross National Income) per capita is 2,050
dollars as of 20101 . It is also expected that the Philippines will achieve
most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), except for universal
education and maternal health. Moreover, the Philippines has a potential
for high economic growth because of its abundant and inexpensive young
labor force and the people’s high English skills. To achieve sustainable and
more vigorous economic growth, it is necessary for the Philippines to
tackle issues such as the improvement of investment climate for attracting
more foreign investment, the advancement of export-driven industries, the
rectification of disparities in income levels, the improvement of vulnerable
infrastructures and social systems to risks such as natural disasters, and the
settlement of the conflict in Mindanao, while taking also into account
stable management of the economy.

10. 1. Relevance of Assistance
• Japan has long provided assistance to the Philippines as the top
donor. Japan will further develop its overall bilateral relations with the
Philippines building upon diplomatic assets acquired so far by Japan’s
presence in the Philippines, wide range of cooperation between the
two countries in the international arena and the good relations
fostered between the private-sectors of the two countries.

11. 2. Basic Assistance Policy
• Japan will render its support through economic cooperation in
assisting the Philippines to achieve “Inclusive Growth” described in
the “Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016” with a view to further
strengthening the “Strategic Partnership” between the two countries.

12. 3. Priority Areas
1. Achieving Sustainable Economic Growth through Further Promotion of
Investment To improve investment climate in order to attract more local
and foreign investment toward the achievement of sustainable economic
growth, Japan provides assistance centering on:
1) the improvement of traffic and transportation network of the
Greater Capital Region;
2) the improvement of infrastructure related to energy and water;
3) the enhancement of administrative capacity,
4) the securing of maritime safety; and
5) human resource development for industries.

13. 3. Priority Areas
2. Overcoming Vulnerability and Stabilizing bases for Human Life and
Production Activity To overcome vulnerability to various risks affecting
the impoverished sector in particular, such as environmental issues
including natural disasters and climate change as well as infectious
diseases, and also to stabilize and fortify bases for human life and
production activities, Japan provides assistance centering on: 1) the
improvement of both “hard” and “soft” infrastructures to address issues
related to natural disasters and environment;
2) the development of safety nets including healthcare; and
3) the enhancement of agricultural production and productivity as
well as the improvement of the processing and distribution of
agricultural products.

14. 3. Priority Areas
3. Peace and Development in Mindanao To secure and stabilize peace
in Mindanao through the promotion of the peace process by means
of socio-economic development in the conflict-affected areas, and
also to eradicate poverty , Japan provides assistance for:
1) the strengthening of governance;
2) the reduction of poverty including the improvement of access
to social services; and
3) the community development through the improvement of
infrastructures and promotion of industries.

15. 4. Points to be considered
• As the peace talks between the Philippine Government and Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been continuing, it is also
necessary to consider future possible assistance to Mindanao after
both parties reach a final peace agreement.
• Necessary safety arrangements should be made in the assistance
activities in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

16. THANK YOU AND WASSALAM…