On 21st July, the 63rd Open Regular Dialog on GII/IDI meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), with officials from MOFA, and NGO and JBIC representatives attending.

MOFA reported on the “High-level Forum on Health MDGs in Asia and the Pacific” that took place in Tokyo on June 21-22, 2005, emphasizing that it wished to consult and work with NGOs in implementing projects under Japan’s new Health and Development Initiative (HDI) that Japan announced at the forum.

MOFA also reiterated that five billion dollars had been committed over the next five years to the HDI to achieve Health MDGs in developing countries.

Recommendations 1: NGO recommendations for post-IDI initiative

Sumie Ishii, Executive Director, JOICFP, spoke about the recommendations that NGOs submitted for HDI in April 2005, commenting that a considerable number of the recommendations had been incorporated, such as those regarding:

• Universal access to reproductive health services
• Focusing on women and youth in addressing reproductive health and preventing infectious diseases
• Improving measures on vaccination, health education and access to public health services for reducing child mortality.
• HIV/AIDS considerations in ODA large-scale infrastructure projects with focus on GO/NGO partnership
• Empowering local communities through health education and advocacy
• Partnerships with NGOs in the health sector for advancing the health MDGs

Recommendations 2: HIV/AIDS prevention activities in large-scale ODA economic and social infrastructure projects

NGO representatives took the opportunity of the regular meeting to submit recommendations to MOFA on HIV/AIDS prevention measures in large-scale ODA economic and social infrastructure projects. Selected NGOs, including JOICFP, had formulated the recommendations, and the 42 member NGOs unanimously approved the final draft.

The recommendations have also been submitted to JICA and JBIC, in addition to MOFA.

• When planning and implementing HIV/AIDS projects, all parties should observe international codes and guidelines such as the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS
• Establishing an “HIV/AIDS office” within JICA and JBIC to examine the need for implementing HIV/AIDS programs for each large-scale ODA infrastructure project, and monitor the planning and implementation of the programs.
• Examining the need for HIV/AIDS programs from the very early stage of project formulation and preparation, requiring that JICA and JBIC work in partnership.
• Incorporating HIV/AIDS programs in large-scale ODA infrastructure projects where possible, otherwise, having implementing organizations pursue other financial sources, such as linking grant aid projects available at MOFA and JICA with ODA loan projects, or by procuring funds from international organizations.
• Having implementing organizations and contractors of ODA infrastructure projects utilize NGO expertise in working with people vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection.

NGOs also suggested that concrete steps be taken by JICA and JBIC in addressing HIV/AIDS prevention in large-scale ODA economic and social infrastructure projects throughout their respective processes.