Foreign Policy Opinion Poll in Japan on Development Cooperation

内閣府が実施している外交世論調査における「開発協力の今後のあり方」の結果は、国際社会の変化や日本の経済情勢などによってダイナミックに変遷している。1977年から1989年の間は開発協力について世論の高い支持が続いていたが、1990年から2004年までは世論の支持が低下・低迷し、2005年以降は世論の支持が回復基調にある。この世論の変化を、日本経済、対中国関係、日本の国際貢献の３つの軸から分析すると、開発協力への世論の支持が低下・低迷した1990年から2004年までは、バブル経済崩壊以降の経済停滞と財政事情の悪化、および天安門事件以降の対中国感情の悪化の２つが要因になっていたと考えられる。しかし2005年以降は、リーマンショック（2008）や東日本大震災（2011）などにも関わらず、開発協力に対する世論は回復基調が続いている。2007年に対中国新規資金協力を終了したことも世論回復の一つの理由として考えられるが、より重要なこととして、国際貢献に対する国民の期待の増大が大きな要因であることが分析から示唆される。2005年以降、国際社会での日本の存在感（相対的な経済力）が低下する中で、国際貢献による日本のソフトパワーの強化が国民から強く期待されるようになっている。開発協力に対する国民の期待は、単に人道上の目的や先進国としての責務としてだけではなく、広い意味での「国益」のために実施されることである。すなわち国際社会における日本への信頼の醸成、日本が途上国とともに繁栄すること、エネルギー資源の安定供給などが開発協力の目的として期待されており、それが開発協力への世論の支持につながっている。経済情勢や財政事情の厳しさを理由としたODA予算の抑制が20年以上にわたって続けられてきたが、成熟した国民世論の動向からはこの政策は正当性を失いつつあるのである。Foreign Policy Opinion Poll in Japan, which has been conducted by Japanese government since 1977, shows that the public support for "Development Cooperation" (or Official Development Assistance) has dynamically reflected series of historical events under three socioeconomic dimensions. The three dimensions are (i) Japanese economy, (ii) Japan-China relationship (China was one of the largest recipients of Japanese ODA), and (iii) international contribution by Japan.Since 1990 until 2004, "Development Cooperation" has lost support from citizens because of (i) economic recession and growing public debt after burst of bubble economy in 1991, and (ii) negative Japanese sentiment toward China after Tiananmen Square Incident. However, the public support toward "Development Cooperation" has been recovered since 2005 up to now although Japanese economy was hit by Lehman\u27s shock in 2008 and pulled down by the huge earthquake in 2011. Why this recovery of the public support happened and has been sustained? Termination of new financial ODA to China in 2007 might be one answer. However, this paper suggests that this recovery can be explained mainly by rising expectation of Japanese citizens toward international contribution from Japan.After 2005, Japanese citizens began to expect that the soft power of Japan should be strengthened through its international contribution, while they noticed comparative decline of economic power of Japan. "Development Cooperation" is expected to be implemented not merely based upon humanitarian purpose nor obligation as developed countries, but more importantly should be conducted based upon “national interests” in a broad sense, such as fostering international trust to Japan, achieving mutual prosperity of Japan and the developing countries, securing access to energy and natural resources, and so on. The continuous cut of ODA budget for more than two decades is no longer justified under the matured public opinion.http://doi.org/10.24545/0000108

Partnership for Whom?

Summary The article examines in what sense various donors understand and interpret the term ‘partnership’ and whether relations between local NGOs and their donors actually fulfill the meaning of this term in Cambodia. The article contrasts supporting schemes to NGOs by Japanese government aid, by Oxfam Great Britain and Coopération Internationale pour 1e Développement et la Solidarité (CIDSE). The question posed is: which scheme and conditions appear to promote partnership better, especially in terms of accountability to the ultimate target beneficiaries? The post?genocidal civil war in Cambodia seriously damaged any notion of community. Consequently, evidence indicates that donors that assist the capacity?building of Cambodian NGOs and those particularly concerned with community organising are more likely to establish a relationship and assistance that is more accountable to the beneficiaries. They do so by basing ‘partnership’ on an organisational rather than project?focused relationship with Cambodian NGOs and communities. On the other hand, it appears that donors that do not support the capacity?building of Cambodian NGOs, but only support project implementation, lack interest in ensuring accountability of their projects to the poor. Such an approach to partnership is more prone to making both international and local NGOs accountable to donors as project implementors, rather than to their partners and their beneficiaries

Climate change adaptation in practice: People's responses to tidal flooding in Semarang, Indonesia

In many places in the world the effects of common floods are increased by climate change. In the area around the Indonesian city of Semarang, the number and effects of tidal flooding are becoming more and more severe. We found that the inhabitants used different strategies against the impact of flooding. In both the existing and the predicted flood prone areas, most people appear not to intend to leave the area, even when the floods become everyday routine. People are connected to their dwellings in a way that abandoning is not a realistic scenario. This study provides relevant information about the way people in the affected areas perceive flood risks and adaptation opportunities. Governmental policy-makers and urban planners could base their strategies and actions on this information. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of Flood Risk Managemen

Rights-based Approaches and Bilateral Aid Agencies: More Than a Metaphor?

It could be argued that the rights based approach … is no more than ametaphor; a concept that catalyses a set of values into a phrase that many people can adopt and adapt. It is a general statement in favour of equitable development, involving widespread participation of those with no direct control of, or access to, the power of the state … If we still take rights as a legal concept then much of what passes as rights based is unlikely to be successful because there are often no state bodies committed to meeting the obligations implied. There is also a sense in that the “emperor has no clothes ” as there are too many people arguing about the details of what a rights approach should be and how it should be operationalised.Meanwhile, this is happening in the absence of any clear idea of what it is they are engaging with. (Pratt 2003: 2)

Humanized childbirth awareness-raising program among Tanzanian midwives and nurses: A mixed-methods study

Background In 2014, the WHO released a statement advocating greater respect for women in their report, “The prevention and elimination of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth”. To address this issue, the Japan International Cooperation Agency established humanized childbirth care. However, this concept remains new in Tanzania. Objective To evaluate the acceptability of the humanized childbirth concept by Tanzanian nurses and midwives. Design Convergent mixed-methods design. Setting Continuing education held at Tanzania\u27s capital city of Dar es Salaam. Participants The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) registered nurses and midwives; (2) can comprehend English; (3) interested in humanized childbirth, (4) experienced in providing maternal and infant care or midwifery, and (5) attended the two-day program on humanized childbirth. Methods The program was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. The valid and reliable 23-item Women-Centered Care English version (WCC23E) questionnaire was used. Open-ended questions elicited the participants’ opinions about the program. Results The entire program was completed by 104 participants (average age, 40.9 years; SD, 9.13). Based on the quantitative data, the mean WCC23E post-test scores showed a significant increase compared with the mean WCC23E pre-test scores, indicating improvement in awareness. The qualitative data revealed three categories: “Gaining knowledge of humanized childbirth as a general dictionary term”, “Accepting and assimilating the concept of humanized childbirth in consideration of their practice”, and “Manifesting their voices of barriers and challenges towards humanized childbirth”. Conclusion The humanized childbirth awareness-raising program was useful for nurses and midwives in terms of favorably changing their perceptions of women-centered care

Many Rivers to Cross: Evaluating the Benefits and Limitations of Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Koshi River Basin

This paper assesses the value of using Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to account for the spatially and temporally diverse and diffuse impacts of hydropower development in South Asia’s Koshi basin. A policy and practice review and key stakeholder interviews identified opportunities for SEA to improve existing planning procedures, but also barriers to effective adoption. Whilst stakeholders are interested in employing SEA to evaluate cumulative impacts, institutional blockages and an economic development imperative for power generation leave little space for consideration of alternative scenarios as part of SEA. The analysis is conducted through the formulation and application of a conceptual framework for SEA best practice which is then used to identify priority next-steps for SEA in the region

Understanding mobility characteristics and needs of older persons in urban Pakistan with respect to use of public transport and self-driving

Since 1990, Pakistan's demographic transition has been increasing life spans with a steady rise in the number of older persons. Pakistan faces many challenges in caring for its older population. The proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is estimated to increase from 5.8% in 2000 to 12.4% in 2050. A study was conducted to understand the existing mobility characteristics of the elderly, their perceived needs and constraining factors. Data was collected using convenient sampling from 450 people aged 60 years or older in nine towns within Lahore City. Older people were approached around urban facilities (shops, banks, terminals) and asked to respond to survey questions. Within-residence interviews were also conducted, mainly for those women who declined interviews in public places. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed, including Pearson's chi squared test for independence. The results are discussed in terms of mode choice, public transport preferences, self-driving issues and the relative benefits of formal and informal public transport options. The study found lower levels of weekly trip-making compared to those reported for older people in China, South Korea and USA. Vehicle ownership (mainly carsand motorcycles) and socio-demographic factors were found to significantly affect trip making. There were large gender differences in trip making and vehicle ownership, suggesting further research and policy action targeting the mobility needs of elderly women. Older persons were concerned about safety issues concerning public transport and self-driving, and also the behavior of transport crews, and this has informed several of the concluding policy recommendations