Knowledge Forum“Historical Overview and Future Perspectives of Japan’s Development Cooperation”

The year 2024 marks the 70th anniversary since Japan started providing official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries. Based on its own experience and knowledge, Japan has long worked to build a peaceful and stable international society by supporting developing countries to lay the foundation for development. Over the last 70 years, there have also been recipient countries that have become donor countries, including China, Thailand and Malaysia.
On the other hand, recent issues of natural disasters and extreme weather events due to climate change have given rise to problems such as food crises. Further issues that have arisen since 2020 include the COVID-19 pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and conflicts between Israeli and Palestinian armed groups, and global issues and rifts between people and regions are worsening. In particular, developing countries without robust social infrastructure are unable to handle such global risks.The situation continues to grow in severity in combination with structural issues, such as poverty and social customs. What can Japan’s development cooperation do as the international society faces such compounded crises that threaten human security? What lessons can be found for the future by looking back on the history of development cooperation through to today?
In this forum, International University of Japan’s Vice-President Kato Hiroshi (Senior Research Advisor at the JICA Ogata Research Institute) gave a keynote speech. Following this, the researchers who authored the book series “Nihon no Kaihatsukyoryokushi wo Toinaosu” (Reconsidering the History of Japan’s Development Cooperation) and a practitioner gave an overview of the history of development cooperation, looking back from their respective viewpoints. The discussion focused on how development cooperation/ODA should move forward in light of changes in the international situation.
Book Series: 'Nihon no Kaihatsukyoryokushi wo Toinaosu' (Reconsidering the History of Japan’s Development Cooperation)
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Program
00:10-07:40 Opening Remarks
Tanaka Akihiko, President, JICA
08:15-26:30　Keynote Speech “The Significance of Exploring the History of Development Cooperation, and the Future Role of Development Cooperation/ODA”
Kato Hiroshi, Vice-President, International University of Japan
27:30-1:27:56 Panel Discussion and Q&A
[Panelists]
Kuroda Kazuo, Professor, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University
Sato Jin, Professor, Department of Pioneering Asian Studies, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo
Mine Yoichi, Executive Director, JICA Ogata Research Institute
Iwama Nozomi, Senior Deputy Director General, JICA Governance and Peacebuilding Department
[Moderator]
Miyahara Chie, Director General, JICA Ogata Research Institute
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