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People useing JICA Plaza

Addressing Information Disclosure Accordingly, JICA started offering information to visi- Information Disclosure at JICA tors by setting up JICA Plaza at the headquarters in April The Law Concerning Access to the Information Held by 2002, as well as at each domestic office in July as a window Independent Administrative Institutions (hereinafter called for general reception. The Headquarters JICA Plaza, located the Freedom of Information Act for Independent on the east side of the 12th floor of Maynds Tower, Administrative Institutions) went into effect on October 1, is furnished with an audio-visual data library, a public 2002. This law provides for a document disclosure request announcement corner, a JICA organizational information ref- system for JICA and other government-related organizations, erence corner, and an ad hoc corner. as well as for the provision of information related to the orga- The audio-visual data library offers a collection of images nization’s activities, with the aim of expanding information and photo materials that show international cooperation sites disclosure and the public accountability* of these organiza- in developing countries. Images can be viewed using videos tions. and computers free of charge. The library also provides pub- JICA worked actively in advance of the law’s going into licity pamphlets. If a visit to the library is not possible, pam- effect to create and distribute periodicals and other publicity phlets and videos can be shipped. materials, produce and lend visual materials, and publish basic At the public announcement corner, JICA displays infor- information about their organizational structure, business, mation on procurement of materials and services, including finances, and digital versions of several periodical on our the results of consultant selection and tender for material pro- website. curement. Public announcement information is also offered on

JICA Library

Address: The Institute for International Cooperation, 10-5 Honmura-cho, Shinjuku-ku, TEL: 03-3269-2301 (main switchboard) Operating hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed: Weekends, public holidays, New Year, JICA Foundation Day (August 1), library inventory (last day of each month)

Access: •10 minutes on foot from on the JR Chuo Line •10 minutes on foot from Ichigaya Station (Exit 6 or 4) on the Eidan Subway Yurakucho Line or Namboku Line •10 minutes on foot from Ichigaya Station (Exit A1-1 or 4) on the Shinjuku Line •12 minutes on foot from Akebonobashi Station (Exit A3) on the Toei Subway Shinjuku Line

176 ● JICA 2002 5 Information Disclosure and Publicity the JICA website and promotion for downloading various JICA has also taken several steps to enhance the visual tender related application forms started in fiscal 2001. attractiveness of the site. These include the addition of the The JICA organizational information reference corner “Bokura Chikyu Chosatai (Introducing JICA to Children)” allows reading and photocopying of legally mandated data section, which explains conditions in developing countries to such as financial statements, business reports, annual reports, children, and “JICA Internet Television,” which broadcasts project evaluation reports, and various program plans and the satellite TV program “Chikyu Kazoku (The JICA Report)” results. This corner also displays information data on devel- on the website. These are part of JICA’s support for develop- oping countries and materials for development education. ment education. After the Freedom of Information Act for Independent In May 2001, the Japanese language pages were com- Administrative Institutions went into effect, this corner was pletely redesigned to provide an environment that enables reborn as an information service corner, offering information more systematic viewing of JICA’s organization and pro- on organization structure, operations, and finance, in addition grams. As of June 2002, information on the main topics listed to legally mandated information. in Figure 3-18 can be accessed through JICA’s English lan- The ad hoc corner is used for events such as photo exhibits guage website. and tour guidance for students who visit JICA headquarters. In addition, almost all offices in Japan and overseas offices Part III During the recruitment season for human resources, applica- have set up their own websites to strengthen the flow of infor- tion guides are distributed and applications are received at mation from the front line in August 2002. JICA has also this corner. undertaken the task of advancing the establishment of home- The Headquarters JICA Plaza has a toll free number (TEL: pages for JICA’s various programs, such as technical cooper-

0120-32-5931) in order to respond to comments and inquiries ation projects, development studies, and the JICA Partnership Chapter 4 by telephone. Program* with links to the main JICA homepage. As a result of this expansion in the content of the JICA General Opening of the JICA Library and website, every month the Japanese homepage receives Information Access 180,000 hits, and the English homepage receives 10,000 hits. Strengthening the Foundations of Program Implemention The JICA Library has been open to the general public In addition, since February 2001, JICA has been publishing since 1977. The library’s collection consists of around 130,000 JICA Mail Magazine, which provides up-to-date event infor- items, including a wide range of reports prepared by JICA mation through e-mail that is sent to registered addresses on and data collected by JICA study teams dispatched to devel- the first and the fifteenth of every month. As of May 2002, oping countries, in addition to maps and aid materials issued 16,000 addresses have been registered to receive this service. by international agencies, and many other items on developing JICA intends to improve the structure and content of the countries. A PC catalogue search system has also been homepage with user-oriented information. installed in the library. In fiscal 2001, the library received 20,000 visitors. Dynamic Public Relations Activities JICA intends to play an important role in the public rela- Information Access and Publicity Activities tions activities of ODA programs. Many publicity activities through the Internet are aimed at spreading awareness of aid projects at home and JICA began enabling information access and carrying out abroad and at ensuring that projects are accurately understood publicity activities on an Internet website in 1996. Since then, and well supported. In particular, JICA is publicizing ODA we have launched an English language page; provided coun- through a variety of methods that include publication of vari- try-specific project results, overviews of technical cooperation ous materials and sponsorship of special events. JICA is also and evaluations and other information on our projects; and actively making information available to the mass media. worked to enhance availability of human resources recruit- ment information on the Japan Overseas Cooperation 1. Production of Publications and Audiovisual Materials Volunteers (JOCV) and Senior Volunteer Programs, as well as Public relations activities aimed at the Japanese public staff recuitment. and the nation’s schools include the monthly magazines

JICA 2002 ● 177 Figure 3-18 JICA Information Available on the Website

● News & Columns ● Evaluation ● About JICA Evaluation Report Japan’s Official Development Assistance Evaluation What is JICA’s Role? Follow-up Outline of JICA Activities ● Publications ● Activities JICA Network Regions & Countries Annual Reports Schemes Genetic Resources Project JICA Aid Newsletter ● Global Issues Study Reports WID/Gender Equality ● Alumni Environment ● Photos Population/AIDS ● Links Education ● Maps Disabilities ● Contacts Poverty Domestic Offices Efforts Pertaining to Peace-building Overseas Offices

◆JICA website (English Page) http://www.jica.go.jp/english/index.html

Kokusai Kyoryoku (International Cooperation) and events include international cooperation campaigns (lectures, Crossroads. The monthly magazine JICA Frontier is issued seminars, video showings, panel displays, etc.) presented for readers connected with JICA programs. These publica- throughout Japan by JICA branches and domestic offices in tions serve to widen the scope of support for JICA’s opera- collaboration with local governments, NGOs, and related tions. In addition, JICA Network, available seasonally in organizations. Civic lectures on international cooperation are English, is aimed at overseas readers; its purpose is to provide held throughout the year for the benefit of the general public. information to partner country governments and people as Such events strengthen links between JICA and local gov- well as other donors* (donor countries and agencies), includ- ernments and further international awareness. ing international organizations. In fiscal 2001, JICA held ODA town meetings with the Television programs, videos, photographic panels, and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sendai and pamphlets introducing JICA operations are constantly being Fukuoka. produced to provide easily accessible information. Through the weekly television broadcast of Chikyu Kazoku (The JICA 3. Approaches to the Mass Media Report) since fiscal 1999, we have been presenting the activi- JICA Press Release is distributed to representatives of the ties of JICA experts and JOCVs from around the world. mass media and other specialists. JICA Press Release pre- In addition to public relations activities, in order to pro- sents a full range of up-to-date information on JICA programs. mote information disclosure actively, JICA Plaza was set up at Several times a year, scholars and staff writers of national JICA headquarters in April 2002. JICA plans to open more and local newspapers take the opportunity offered by JICA to plazas at agencies nationwide to offer one-stop service to the visit project sites in developing countries to acquire a better public as well as information on JICA operations and organi- understanding of international cooperation. In 2001, articles on zation. topics relating to JICA appeared on average twice a day in the national press and 10 times a day in the local press in Japan. 2. Organization of Events The main event intended to enhance general awareness 4. Overseas Public Relations of international cooperation is conducted at the International JICA’s overseas offices play a key role in promoting pub- Cooperation Festival, which takes place on October 6. Other lic relations activities overseas. In fiscal 2001, as many as 63

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JICA’s publicity magazines Part III offices, including those in the more developed countries, were April 2002 includes a period for integrated study, which will involved in presenting panel displays and symposiums, and emphasize international understanding education as one of producing pamphlets and videos. Such activities are increasing the main topics. Corresponding to the new focus on interna-

year by year. We have received high praise from journalists, tional understanding, JICA is responding to requests from Chapter 4 who have few opportunities to visit JICA projects overseas, schools and teachers by introducing JICA’s human resources, for organizing local press tours to project sites. such as JOCVs and experts who have experience in devel- oping countries. JICA also responds to requests by facilitating participation of students to the existing domestic programs Strengthening the Foundations of Program Implemention Programs to Support Development Education such as the Acceptance of Technical Training Participants JICA supports development education as it prompts indi- Program and the Youth Invitation Program. viduals of any age to think about global issues*, such as devel- For promoting assistance with development education, opment, environment, and peace, while promoting a deeper JICA’s domestic branches located throughout Japan, and coor- understanding of the importance of international cooperation. dinators* for international cooperation (JICA Desk) placed At the school level, the new curriculum that started in in local authorities for international relations play the core role in coordinating closely with local organizations. JICA cooperates with local organizations such as boards of educa- tion, international cooperation associations, international exchange organizations, and NGOs to conduct effective assis- tance with the local community.

Support for Development Education The following are the specific programs JICA conducts for assisting development education in educational institutions.

1. Essay Competitions for Junior and Senior High School Pupils, Thesis Competitions for University Students Essay and thesis competitions are held under the topic “Developing Countries and International Cooperation” to cre- ODA town meeting in Sendai ate an opportunity for students to engage in such topics. In fis-

JICA 2002 ● 179 cal 2001, JICA received a total of 22,459 entries. The winning contestants are awarded invitations to study tours to devel- oping countries, where they are offered a chance to visit experts and JOCVs who are working on the front lines of the international cooperation field. These experiences lead to deeper understanding of JICA’s operations.

2. Study Programs in Developing Countries for Junior High and High School Teachers This program focuses on junior high and high school teachers who are interested in teaching development education during class or club activities. The program enables partici- pating teachers to observe the actual fields of international cooperation. In fiscal 2001, 73 teachers participated. Lecture on Salmon Campaign

3. Training for Development Education Teachers training program of JOCVs to promote understanding of the In fiscal 2001, JICA launched 15 training courses for ele- Dispatch of JOCV Program. In 2001, 162 students partici- mentary, junior high, and high school teachers to examine pated. implementation cases in development education and meth- ods for teaching material development. The training program 7. Students’ JOCV Experience Program was developed with NGOs to reflect their experiences in In this program, high school students visit and participate development education. in the actual field where JOCVs are volunteering. 10 high school students participated in fiscal 2001. 4. Visits by Lecturers (Salmon Campaign) JICA dispatches employees, former experts and JOCVs, 8 Provision of Useful Materials for Development and foreign training program participants to educational insti- Education tutions through JICA’s branches placed throughout Japan. By 1) Issue of the poster newspaper Bokura Chikyu Chosatai dispatching lecturers, JICA supports education that promotes For elementary and junior high schools, we send a poster understanding towards developing countries. In fiscal 2001, newspaper called Bokura Chikyu Chosatai, which simply 1,439 lectures about international cooperation and developing introduces the reality and everyday situation in developing countries reached 170,000 people. countries to children. 2) JICA’s development education website 5. Students’ ODA Experience Program at International As with the poster newspaper, the JICA website has a Centers page called Bokura Chikyu Chosatai that explains desertifi- This program is conducted for school students at JICA’s international centers located all over Japan. Through com- munication with training program participants from develop- ing countries and lectures by former JOCVs and experts who have worked in developing countries, the participating stu- dents gain a deeper understanding of international cooperation. In fiscal 2001, 400 students participated in this program. Pamphlet, Gakko ni Ikitai (I want to Go to School)

6. Student Visits to JOCV Training Centres The JOCV Training Centres in Nihonmatsu and Komagane and the JOCV Hiroo Training and Study Centre accept local junior high school students to participate in the

180 ● JICA 2002 5 Information Disclosure and Publicity cation, deforestation, food situations, and health and medical care issues to elementary and junior high school students in a way that makes it easy to understand the situation. 3) Photo materials for development education: Photo Language With the cooperation of teachers and NGOs involved in development education, JICA has published a set of educa- tional photographs to be used as teaching materials. These photographs introduce ways of life in developing countries and are placed in JICA’s domestic branches and JICA Plaza for loan service to teachers and NGOs.

4) Videos and pamphlets for elementary and junior high A pamphlet called INFO-KIT school students presents details of JICA. JICA has made videos that easily explain JICA’s pro- grams and the Acceptance of Technical Training Participants Part III Program to an elementary and junior high school audience. A pamphlet titled Gakko ni Ikitai (I Want to Go to School), which was produced and distributed to all the elementary schools in fiscal 2000, is distributed to elementary and junior

high school students during their visits to JICA headquarters Chapter 4 and domestic offices, or is used at the various events and lec- international cooperation. tures carried out by domestic offices. The ODA citizen monitors program, which began in fiscal 1999, is aimed at deepening the general public’s awareness by providing a chance to see the actual ODA field. In fiscal 2001, Strengthening the Foundations of Program Implemention For Further Understanding a total of 104 people (a man and a woman from each prefec- In addition to providing support on the educational front, ture in Japan, and two men and two women from prefectures JICA also holds seminars and lectures throughout Japan to with high populations, such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, promote a deeper understanding of developing countries and Aichi, and Saitama) went to 10 countries in Asia.

A new publicity tool called the JICA INTRO-KIT consists of pamphlets, videos, and CD-ROMs that explain JICA.

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