Information Disclosure and Publicity

Outline of the Program International Cooperation Festival held in Hibiya Park. Addressing Information Disclosure III In April 2001, the Law Concerning Access to accountability of these organizations. Information Held by Administrative Organs (hereafter In addition, this draft requires these organizations to 4 Chapter called the “Freedom of Information Act”) came into prepare documents and other materials recording basic force, and an information disclosure system was subse- information about their organizational structure, busi- quently installed and implemented. ness and finances, and to make such information avail- JICA, which implements ODA programs, is subject able in a timely and easily accessible manner. In this nomto icoueadPublicity and Disclosure Implementation/ Information Program 4 of Foundations the Strengthening to the Law Concerning Access to the Information Held spirit, JICA has been working actively in advance of by Independent Administrative Institutions, but its the law’s enforcement to create and distribute the enactment was already scheduled by the Freedom of following regularly issued publicity materials, and to Information Act. Given the implementation of this law post them on our homepage. in fiscal 2002, JICA is carrying out preparation for the (1) Basic information on JICA’s organizational struc- establishment of an information disclosure system. ture, systems, etc. (Overview of the organization, This bill provides for a document disclosure organizational diagram, mission, location, telephone request system for JICA and other government-related numbers, fax numbers, types of business, etc.) organizations, and the provision of information related (2) Information on the current state of JICA’s activities, to the organization’s activities, with the aim of etc. (State of project progress, reports, statistical furthering the information disclosure and public materials, etc.)

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10-5 Honmura-cho, -ku, Hoken L juku Dai Nippon Printing Co. Kaikan

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TEL: 03-3269-2301 (main switchboard) Ichigaya Renoir Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Gaien Higashi-dori Café

JICA Library Sanaizaka Statio Ichigaya Exit Closed: A1-1 (Inside the Institute for International Cooperation) Ichigaya Station Weekends, public holidays, New Year, MacDonald’s

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tion 4 10 minutes on foot from Ichigaya Station Akebonobashi akucho Line Station

on the JR Chuo Line; Soto

10 minutes on foot from Ichigaya Station bo ri-dori (Exit 6 or 4) on the Eidan Subway To Aoyama To Yotsuya To Kojimachi 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.

189 (3) Information on budget and settlement of accounts of the “Introducing JICA to Children” section, which (4) Information on procurement of materials and explains conditions in developing countries to children, construction (Announcement of projects based on and “JICA Internet Television,” which broadcasts the open tender and results of tender, names of projects, satellite TV program “The JICA Report” on the website. main materials procured and construction, eligibility In June 2001, the Japanese language pages were for participation, date of tender, bidding companies, completely redesigned to provide an environment that bidding prices, successful bidders, contract prices) enables more systematic viewing of JICA’s organiza- (5) Information on evaluations, etc. (Annual Evaluation tion and programs. As of June 2001, information on the Report, ex-post evaluation reports by experts and main topics listed in Figure 3-21 can be accessed external organizations, ex-ante project evaluation through JICA’s English language web site. charts) In addition, 18 agencies in Japan and 28 overseas (6) Information gathered and accumulated by JICA that offices have set up their own websites to strengthen the is in high-demand by individuals and enterprises flow of information from the front line. JICA has also (Country-specific living standards, cooperation and undertaken the task of advancing the establishment of coordination with non-governmental organizations homepages for JICA’s various programs, such as [NGOs], cooperation and coordination with local Project-type Technical Cooperation, Development government, cooperation and coordination with Studies, and the JICA Partnership Program with NGOs, private sector enterprises) Local Governments and Institutes, with links to the main JICA homepage. General Opening of the JICA Library and

Information Access Figure 3-21 JICA Information Available on the Website The JICA Library has been open to the general (English Page) public since 1977. The library’s collection consists of • News & Columns • About JICA around 149,000 items, including a wide range of reports Japan’s Official Development Assistance prepared by JICA and data collected by JICA study What is JICA’s Role? Outline of JICA Activities teams, in addition to maps of developing countries, aid • Activities Regions & Countries materials issued by international agencies, and many Schemes • Global Issues other items on developing countries. A PC search system WID/Gender Equality has also been introduced at the library. In fiscal 2000, the Environment Population/AIDS library was used by an average of 46 people per day. Education Disability Poverty Information Access and Publicity Activities Efforts Pertaining to Peacebuilding • Evaluation Through the Internet Evaluation Bulletin Evaluation Report JICA began enabling information access and Evaluation carrying out publicity activities on an Internet website in Follow-up • Publications 1996. Since then, we have launched an English- JICA Network Annual Reports language page; provided country-specific project results, Genetic Resources Project Newsletter overviews of Technical Cooperation and evaluation and Study Reports other information on our projects; and worked to • Photos • Alumni enhance availability of human resources recruitment • Links • Contacts information on the Japan Overseas Cooperation Domestic Offices Volunteers (JOCV) and Senior Volunteer programs as Overseas Offices

well as employee hiring. JICA website (English Page): JICA has also taken several steps to enhance the http://www.jica.go.jp/english/index.html visual attractiveness of the site. These include the addition

190 As a result of this expansion in the content of the JICA website, every month the Japanese homepage receives 100,000 hits, and the English homepage receives 8,000 hits. In addition, since February 2001, JICA has been publishing the JICA Mail Magazine, which provides up-to-date event information through e- mail that is sent to registered addresses on the first and the fifteenth of every month. As of July 2001, 10,000 addresses have been registered to receive this service. With the Information Disclosure Act going into effect in fiscal 2002, JICA intends to improve the struc- ture and content of the homepage by enhancing search The ceremony to introduce Thailand Killifish, sponsored by the JICA Kanagawa III International Fisheries Training Centre and Enoshima Aquarium. functions, offering more information, creating a corner for specific projects and providing the latest information scope of support for JICA’s operations. In addition, 4 Chapter from the field. JICA Network, available seasonally in English, French and Spanish, is aimed at overseas readers; its purpose Public Relations Activities is to improve the supply of information to recipient JICA intends to play a role in the public relations country governments and people as well as donors*, nomto icoueadPublicity and Disclosure Implementation/ Information Program 4 of Foundations the Strengthening activities of ODA programs. Extensive publicity activi- including international organizations. ties are aimed at spreading awareness of aid projects at Television programs, videos, photographic panels, home and abroad and at ensuring that projects are accu- and pamphlets introducing JICA operations are rately understood and well supported. In particular, constantly being produced to provide easily accessible JICA is publicizing ODA through a variety of methods information. Through the JICA Media Center, which that include publication of various materials and spon- was established in fiscal 1999 to enhance the public sorship of special events. JICA is also actively making release of visual materials, we completed the digitaliza- information available to the mass media. tion of all of JICA’s photographs in fiscal 2000, and we 1. Utilization of Publications and Audiovisual have worked toward the simplification of photograph Materials searches and secondary usages. In addition, through the Public relations activities aimed at the Japanese weekly television broadcast of Chikyu Kazoku: The JICA public and the nation’s schools include issue of the Report since fiscal 1999, we have been presenting the monthly magazines Kokusai Kyoryoku (International activities of experts and JOCV from around the world. Cooperation) and Crossroads. The monthly magazine 2. Organization of Events JICA Frontier is issued for readers connected with The main event intended to enhance general awareness JICA programs. These publications serve to widen the of international cooperation is International

JICA’s publicity magazine and pamphlets. 191 Cooperation Day, which takes place on 6 October. Other events include international cooperation campaigns (lectures, seminars, video showings, panel displays, etc.) presented throughout Japan by JICA branches and centers in collaboration with local governments, NGOs, and related organizations. Civic lectures on international cooperation are held throughout the year for the benefit of the general public. Such events strengthen links with the regions and further international awareness. In fiscal 2000, the International Cooperation Festival was held in ’s Hibiya Park under the International Cooperation Festival—international exchange among children. joint sponsorship of JICA, the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (formerly the Japanese NGO few opportunities to visit cooperation project sites, for Center for International Cooperation), the Development organizing local press tours to project sites. Education Council of Japan, the Association for Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC), and Programs to Support Development Education the Japan Bank for International Cooperation* (JBIC), JICA supports development education as it prompts and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. individuals of any age to think about global issues*, Amidst a climate of enhanced partnership with such as development, environment and peace, while NGOs, 198 organizations (including 114 NGOs) took promoting a deeper understanding of the importance of part in the event, which attracted large crowds. It international cooperation. provided an ideal opportunity for people to come into At the school level, the new curriculum that will contact with conditions in developing countries and start from April 2002 will include a period for with international cooperation activities. Integrated Study. This will emphasize international 3. Approaches to the Mass Media understanding education as one of the main topics. Representatives of the mass media and other Corresponding to the new focus on international under- specialists are sent copies of the magazine JICA standing, JICA is responding to requests from schools Satellite, which, in addition to general topics, presents a and teachers by introducing JICA’s human resources, full range of up-to-date information on JICA programs. such as technical cooperation experts and JOCV who Several times a year, scholars and employees of have experience in developing countries. JICA also national and local publications are given the opportu- responds to requests by facilitating participation of nity to visit project sites in developing countries to students to the existing domestic programs such as the acquire a better understanding of international coopera- Acceptance of Technical Training Participants Program tion. In 2000, articles on topics relating to JICA and the Youth Invitation Program. appeared on average twice a day in the national press For promoting the assistance with development and nine times a day in the local press. education, JICA’s domestic branches located throughout 4. Overseas Public Relations Japan, and regional coordinators for international coop- JICA’s overseas offices play a key role in promoting eration (JICA Desk) placed in local international public relations activities overseas. In fiscal 2000, as exchange associations, play the core role in coordinating many as 62 offices, including those in the more devel- closely with local organizations. JICA cooperates with oped countries, were involved in presenting panel local organizations such as boards of education, interna- displays and symposiums, and producing pamphlets and tional support associations, international exchange orga- videos. Such activities are increasing year by year. We nizations and NGOs, to conduct effective assistance have received high praise from journalists, who have with the local community.

192 “Developing Countries and International Cooperation” create an opportunity for students to engage in such topics. In fiscal 2000, JICA received a total of 29,438 entries. The winning contestants are awarded invita- tions to study tours to developing countries, where they are offered a chance to visit experts and JOCV who are working at the front of the international cooperation field. These experiences lead to deeper understanding Indonesian training participants visiting Oyachi Elementary School in Hokkaido, sharing their culture with Japanese children. of JICA’s operations. 2. Study Programs in Developing Countries for The following are the specific programs JICA Junior High and High School Teachers conducts for assisting development education in educa- This program focuses on junior high and high III tional institutions. school teachers who are interested in teaching develop- 1. Essay Competitions for Junior and Senior High ment education during class or club activities. The 4 Chapter School Pupils, Dissertation Competitions for program enables participating teachers to observe the University Students actual fields of international cooperation. In fiscal 2000, Essay and thesis competitions held under the topic 65 teachers participated. nomto icoueadPublicity and Disclosure Implementation/ Information Program 4 of Foundations the Strengthening Front Line Children Cooking Rice Meals with Training Participants Hiroshima The First Step to International Cooperation Support for Development Education

Rice as a Tool for International Understanding It was the time of autumn harvest when the fifth year students of Higashi Hiroshima City Higashi Saijo Primary School told their teachers, “We want to make meals from around the world with the rice we cultivated.” They were very curious to see how rice has been adapted into people’s lives around the world in various ways. The students explained that they researched the history and culture of rice from the planting to harvest time. When the students asked the training participants whether people in other countries ate rice and if rice looked different across the world, nine participants said that they would like to show their own country’s rice meals. The students studied about the participants’ home countries and prepared questions. Meanwhile, participants from countries where men do not customarily cook tried their best to write down recipes Together with a participant, “Let’s eat!” for their favorite national dishes. The ingredients were whatever the students could manage to bring from home. Whatever else was formed naturally, tasting and sharing each other’s recipes. needed was bought during a shopping excursion by the students and Later, a letter from the students arrived at the Chugoku participants on the previous day. However, certain special herbs International Centre. In this letter, the students wrote, “Although we could either not be obtained at ordinary supermarkets or were too couldn’t understand each other’s language, I felt that we could expensive. The students and participants conferred with each other understand by our feelings,” and “I learned that even people from regarding cheaper alternative ingredients that could bring out the faraway countries are no different from us.” actual tastes and smells of the dishes. The supermarket staff was The children are now saying that they plan to research more about completely bustling in an attempt to satisfy their special customers. the participants and their countries, and about JICA, and present Faraway Countries Just Moved Closer! their findings at the school Culture Festival next year. The classroom The participants eagerly showed off their cooking talents: steamed walls of these students who have just taken their first step into inter- rice with vegetables from Panama, hot-and-sour tofu over rice from national cooperation are now filled with posters introducing the China, fried rice from Nauru. Each country had transformed the rice countries they are studying. The students talk with smiling faces in its own way, and each new dish was greeted by cheers when being about their wish to visit these countries someday. placed on the finishing table. Groups of children and participants (JICA Chugoku International Centre)

193 3. Visits by Lecturers (Salmon Campaign) 7. Provision of Useful Materials for Development JICA dispatches employees, former experts and Education JOCV, and training participants to educational institu- (1) Issue of the monthly magazine Kokusai Kyoryoku tions through JICA’s branches placed throughout (International Cooperation) and the poster news- Japan. By dispatching lecturers, JICA assists education paper Kokusai Rikai Kyoiku Topics (Education which promotes understanding towards developing Topics on International Understanding) countries. In fiscal 2000, 1,058 lectures about interna- We are sending a monthly magazine called Kokusai tional cooperation and developing countries reached Kyoryoku that is full of information about devel- 117,000 people. oping countries and international cooperation to all 4. Students’ ODA Experience Program at junior high schools, high schools, and libraries International Centers throughout Japan. For elementary and junior high This program is conducted for high school students schools we also send a quarterly poster newspaper at JICA’s international centers which are located all called Kokusai Rikai Kyoiku Topics, which simply over Japan. Through communication with training introduces the reality and actual life of the devel- participants from developing countries and lectures by oping countries to the children. former JOCV and experts who have worked in devel- (2) Introducing JICA to Children: JICA’s development oping countries, the participating students gain a deeper education website understanding of international cooperation. In fiscal Introducing JICA to Children is a page on the JICA 2000, 292 students participated in this program. website that provides an opportunity for elementary 5. Student Visits to JOCV Training Centre and junior high school students to think about The JOCV Training Centers in Nihonmatsu and numerous global issues. Issues such as desertifica- Komagane accept local junior high school students to tion, housing, population and global warming are participate in the training program of JOCV to promote presented in an easy to understand fashion. understanding of the Dispatch of JOCV program. In (3) Photo materials for development education: Photo 2000, 150 students participated. Language 6. Students’ JOCV Experience Program With the cooperation of teachers and NGOs In this program high school students visit and partic- involved in development education, JICA has ipate in the actual field where JOCV are volunteering. published a set of educational photographs to be Ten high school students participated in fiscal 2000. used as teaching materials. These photographs introduce the way of life in developing countries

Students visit JOCV Komagane Training Centre. Elementary School pamphlet, Gakko ni Ikitai (I Want to Go to School). 194 and are placed in JICA’s domestic branches or the front, JICA also holds seminars and lectures throughout Media Center for a rental service provided to Japan to promote a deeper understanding of developing teachers and NGOs. countries and international cooperation. The ODA (4) Videos and pamphlets for elementary, junior high citizen monitors program, which began in fiscal 1999, and high school students is aimed at deepening the general public’s awareness by JICA has made videos that explain JICA’s providing a chance to see the actual ODA field. In programs and the Acceptance of Technical Training fiscal 2000, the number of participants was doubled and Participants program to an elementary and junior a total of 104 people (a man and a woman from each high school audience at an easy level. JICA has also prefecture in Japan, and two men and two women from produced pamphlets titled Gakko ni Ikitai (I Want prefectures with high populations, such as Tokyo, to Go to School), which are sent to elementary Osaka, Kanagawa, Aichi and Saitama) were sent to 10 schools throughout Japan. countries in Asia. III In addition to providing support on the educational hpe 4 Chapter nomto icoueadPublicity and Disclosure Implementation/ Information Program 4 of Foundations the Strengthening

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