ID :
43220
Fri, 01/30/2009 - 05:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/43220
The shortlink copeid
Japan to focus foreign aid on climate change, Africa: white paper+
TOKYO, Jan. 29 Kyodo - Japan underscored in a government report Thursday its priority on strengthening foreign assistance for African development and helping developing nations fight global warming, in fulfilling its pledges as host of two key conferences last year.
The White Paper on Official Development Assistance 2008, compiled by the
Foreign Ministry for submission to the Cabinet next Tuesday, also noted the
growing presence of emerging donors such as China and stressed the need for
Japan and other major donors to coordinate and share experiences with the
countries.
To highlight its priorities, the ministry allocated the first two of the annual
ODA report's four sections for reviewing the policies and pledges on climate
change and African development assistance that Japan announced as chair of the
Group of Eight summit and the Tokyo International Conference on African
Development last year.
''Amid expectations for swift actions to be taken on the climate change issue,
Japan is exercising its leadership in this matter,'' the paper said. ''Climate
change and development cannot be taken separately. A development program which
ignores the issue of climate change will not achieve good results.''
Japan, under the Cool Partnership program it initiated, has promised to
contribute about $10 billion over five years beginning in 2008 to support
developing nations in implementing measures that will enable the reduction of
carbon emissions without hampering economic growth.
The report also said that resolving issues in Africa is central to world
efforts to tackle climate change and other global issues such as terrorism,
energy security, poverty and food crises.
''Further stability through peace consolidation with Africa's own efforts,
progress in democratization, good governance, and social infrastructure is
essential for achieving sustainable growth,'' the white paper said. ''We must
also aim to promote private sector investment by improving economic
infrastructure and systems there.''
Japan also renewed its pledge to continue efforts to help developing countries
work toward achieving the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, including halving
extreme poverty and hunger, by 2015.
''By steadfastly fulfilling various measures pleased at the TICAD conference,
including doubling aid to Africa, Japan will take the lead to ensure that the
international community carries out its assistance to the continent,'' the
report said.
With regard to the integration of the Japan International Cooperation Agency
and operations of the former Japan Bank for International Cooperation in
October, the report noted expectations that the more centralized
decision-making would improve efficiency and effectiveness of Japan's
development aid policies.
The new JICA, implementing projects worth about $10.28 billion through a
network of about 100 overseas offices, became one of the world's largest
agencies for the provision of bilateral development aid.
Referring to the significantly increasing aid activities by China, Russia, and
other emerging donors, the report said, ''Cooperation and the sharing of
experience by Japan and other traditional donors with the new ones will be
extremely important for the overall improvement of results for all parties.''
In light of increased kidnapping and other incidents targeted at aid workers,
such as the abduction of a Japanese female doctor in Ethiopia in September, the
report said that implementing measures to secure the safety of personnel
involved in peace building and other aid activities ''has become an extremely
important task.''
The white paper also noted the continued reduction in the budget for Japan's
official development assistance and indicated hopes to reverse the trend
through increasing low-interest loan provisions.
Japan, a former No. 1 world donor, was surpassed by Germany and France and
tumbled to fifth place among 22 major donors in terms of ODA disbursements in
2007.
==Kyodo
2009-01-29 22:00:50
The White Paper on Official Development Assistance 2008, compiled by the
Foreign Ministry for submission to the Cabinet next Tuesday, also noted the
growing presence of emerging donors such as China and stressed the need for
Japan and other major donors to coordinate and share experiences with the
countries.
To highlight its priorities, the ministry allocated the first two of the annual
ODA report's four sections for reviewing the policies and pledges on climate
change and African development assistance that Japan announced as chair of the
Group of Eight summit and the Tokyo International Conference on African
Development last year.
''Amid expectations for swift actions to be taken on the climate change issue,
Japan is exercising its leadership in this matter,'' the paper said. ''Climate
change and development cannot be taken separately. A development program which
ignores the issue of climate change will not achieve good results.''
Japan, under the Cool Partnership program it initiated, has promised to
contribute about $10 billion over five years beginning in 2008 to support
developing nations in implementing measures that will enable the reduction of
carbon emissions without hampering economic growth.
The report also said that resolving issues in Africa is central to world
efforts to tackle climate change and other global issues such as terrorism,
energy security, poverty and food crises.
''Further stability through peace consolidation with Africa's own efforts,
progress in democratization, good governance, and social infrastructure is
essential for achieving sustainable growth,'' the white paper said. ''We must
also aim to promote private sector investment by improving economic
infrastructure and systems there.''
Japan also renewed its pledge to continue efforts to help developing countries
work toward achieving the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, including halving
extreme poverty and hunger, by 2015.
''By steadfastly fulfilling various measures pleased at the TICAD conference,
including doubling aid to Africa, Japan will take the lead to ensure that the
international community carries out its assistance to the continent,'' the
report said.
With regard to the integration of the Japan International Cooperation Agency
and operations of the former Japan Bank for International Cooperation in
October, the report noted expectations that the more centralized
decision-making would improve efficiency and effectiveness of Japan's
development aid policies.
The new JICA, implementing projects worth about $10.28 billion through a
network of about 100 overseas offices, became one of the world's largest
agencies for the provision of bilateral development aid.
Referring to the significantly increasing aid activities by China, Russia, and
other emerging donors, the report said, ''Cooperation and the sharing of
experience by Japan and other traditional donors with the new ones will be
extremely important for the overall improvement of results for all parties.''
In light of increased kidnapping and other incidents targeted at aid workers,
such as the abduction of a Japanese female doctor in Ethiopia in September, the
report said that implementing measures to secure the safety of personnel
involved in peace building and other aid activities ''has become an extremely
important task.''
The white paper also noted the continued reduction in the budget for Japan's
official development assistance and indicated hopes to reverse the trend
through increasing low-interest loan provisions.
Japan, a former No. 1 world donor, was surpassed by Germany and France and
tumbled to fifth place among 22 major donors in terms of ODA disbursements in
2007.
==Kyodo
2009-01-29 22:00:50
