Japan’s Development Cooperation Charter

News:

Japan has approved a major revision of its Development Cooperation Charter.

What:

• The Development Cooperation Charter is the development aid policy of Japan.
• Recent version’s highlights:
  • More focus to paid to:
    • Maritime security
    • Economic security
    • National interests
  • Prioritization of addressing:
    • Climate change
    • Energy crisis
    • Food crisis
  • Attention also paid to:
    • Strengthening supply chain resilience
    • Digital transformation
  • Stresses on the importance of:
    • Working with private sector and civil society
    • Bringing in new funding
    • Setting international rules and guidelines based on:
      • Transparency
      • Inclusiveness
      • Fairness

Why:

• To guide Japan’s undertakings to help developing nations overcome several challenges, especially considering China’s growing global influence.

How:

• Focus on non-military cooperation, while keeping human security as ‘a guiding principle’.

When:

• Updated once every 10 years.
• Last updated in 2015.

Facts:

• In December 2022, Japan adopted a new National Security Strategy.
  • The goal to doubling its defence spending to $310 billion over the next 5 years.
  • Launch of Official Security Assistance/ OSA for developing nations’ militaries, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Given the tight fiscal conditions, Japan is looking to use its development aid more strategically and effectively.