In the third of a series on ODA held by JOICFP, Tsuneo Sugishita, Professor, Ibaraki University and former journalist delivered a lecture entitled, "Is the news on Japanese ODA appropriate?"

Sugishita outlined how the phrase ODA (official development assistance) was first coined in the 1970s in a climate of criticism of overseas economic assistance that was perceived to be inefficient.

He explained that in the 1980s, the media failed to explain how ODA was being used to support diplomatic strategies for Japan's national interest, and ODA was thought to be wasted, even though Japan was the number one donor, ahead of the USA.

In the 1990s, there was little criticism of ODA, but also little interest as public attention was more on Japan's peace-keeping operations, he said.

In 2000, Japan's ODA budget was 60% of the peak amount in 1997, and in 2006, Japan fell to the world's third largest donor. By 2008, Japan is expected to fall to fifth, he mentioned.

On the world stage, Sugishita said Japan has no voice, such as on the UN Security Council, or the OECD DAC.

Japan's ODA, he said, must be used to promote Japan's views, and a change must occur in the public's opinions so that ODA is seen as helpful to Japan as well as to those who receive it.

This was a role for the media, he explained.

4th ODA lecture

The fourth lecture in the series was delivered by Mitsuya Araki, President, International Development Journal Co., Japan.

Speaking on "All Japan System in International Cooperation ? the 4 Layers Structure," Araki also mentioned how ODA has a bad image in Japan.

Discussing commonly used terms, he ranked 'ODA' with the worst image, and 'international cooperation' as having the best.

Through TV and other media, ODA was associated with infrastructure projects, economic growth, and waste and corruption. It was seen by the public only as a number, and not the sweat and tears of the people in the field who implemented projects.

In order to tackle this poor image, people need see the realities of the grassroots, with JOCV being a good example.

Araki explained that the first layer of ODA was the Command Council of Overseas Economic Cooperation, which was part of Japan's National Security Council.

The second layer, he said, was MOFA's International Planning HQ, which aims to balance national and international interests in ODA policy.

The third layer is JICA, which actually implements programs, and the fourth is the general public, consultants, experts, professionals, etc.

Araki gave the example of the USA, where 20-30% of US international assistance goes through NGOs, and said Japan had follow suit, though Japanese NGOs needed much more capacity building.

For example, World Vision USA is 30-40 times larger than its Japanese branch, and Save the Children is 66 times bigger.

Unique private-public partnerships (PPP), such as USAID's Global Development Alliance, allowed NGOs and governments both to assist and be assisted.

Araki gave examples of unique projects, such as one in Java where university students visit villages to teach what they have learned, and bring back to the university lessons learned at the grassroots.

Networks of information and skills, not loci, were what was needed, he said, stressing that Japan must create a system for government bureaucracy to understand the strengths of the private sector for better implementation of ODA.