5� 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 Shinjuku 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 Ichigaya Honmura-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 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 Ichigaya Station 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 Toei Subway 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