Furthering GO-NGO Partnership
at Regular GII/IDI Meeting

On 24th November 2005, the 65th Open Regular Dialog on GII/IDI meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), with officials from MOFA and representatives of 16 member NGOs attending.

Two NGOs (Africa Japan Forum and World Vision Japan) talked about the final report on a workshop they had organized to promote ODA-NGO collaboration in assistance to Africa, especially in light of the announcement made by the Japanese Prime Minister of doubling ODA to the continent in the next three years.

Discussion had focused on current and possible implementation of assistance by NGOs in areas such as HIV/AIDS, food security, education, and maternal and child health, and the obstacles to be overcome to do so effectively.

As a good example of ODA collaboration with both international organizations and NGOs, MOFA spoke on the partnership with IPPF in the Bridge of Hope project, saying that money from the Japan Trust Fund had contributed to it. MOFA explained that ODA is not always able to reach certain areas, so partnership with NGOs and organizations like IPPF was a good practice. Furthermore, this partnership can form a valuable synergy of resources and experience.

In the past, MOFA said, there have been few joint GO-NGO activities, and little documentation of good practices. MOFA is now hoping to compile good practices of partnership activities with NGOs, which can be used within MOFA and through, for example, Japanese embassies overseas to assist with project development, both on the GO and NGO sides.

NGOs outlined their views on ODA-NGO partnership in the near future regarding the new Health and Development Initiative (HDI), and specifically areas where ODA is difficult to deliver and what NGOs can do in these situations.

Discussions among NGOs will continue in order to best determine how they can effectively complement activities under HDI.

Following the start of HDI, the meeting also discussed the future name of the GII/IDI meetings, which was specifically started in 1994 with regards to the Cairo ICPD and ICPD+5.