Japan's Development Cooperation: 60 Years History and Its Prospects — JICA Vice President Hiroshi Kato Gives a Lecture at United Nations University

On February 10, 2015, JICA Vice President Hiroshi Kato gave a lecture at United Nations University (UNU), entitled Japan’s Development Cooperation: 60 Years History and Its Prospects. JICA-RI initiated a research to review Japan’s Official Development Aid (ODA) in 2014, a milestone year commemorating 60-year anniversary of Japan’s ODA. Kato, who leads this project, introduced the historical aspects of Japan’s ODA based on the research outcome. Around 60 participants including UNU staff and students, representatives of other UN offices in Tokyo attended the lecture.

Kato gave a retrospective overview of Japan’s ODA from the postwar era to the present day as well as the consistency of Japan’s ODA: a model that links aid and private investment and focus on physical infrastructure, human resources and institutions. He also explained that Japan has been supporting developing countries in partnership with diversified development partners such as universities and NGOs.