Reverse Linkage

77 DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION I n 1954, Japan launched its technical assistance activi- ties by joining theColomboPlan, while the countrywas still undergoing postwar reconstruction and receiv- ing financial assistance from other donor countries and institutions. As such, Japan was a centre of South-South Cooperation (SSC) between itself and neighbouring coun- tries. Since then, the Japanese government has expanded the volume of SSC and its sectoral coverage through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the coun- try’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) wing. Japan’s Development Cooperation Charter, revised in 2015, also stresses the importance of partnership, particularly with emerging countries and other donors and actors. The emphasis on partnership reflects the importance of not only SSC, but also Triangular Cooperation, as essential tools for Japan’s ODA. The charter reads: In implementing develop- ment cooperation, it is also important to take advantage of expertise, human resources and their networks, and other assets that have been accumulated in the recipient countries during the many years of Japan’s development cooperation. Japan’s Triangular Cooperation, involving emerging and other countries, capitalises on such assets. In view of the high regard held by the international community, Japan will continue to promote Triangular Cooperation. Based on the charter, JICA has been implementing a number of SSC and Triangular Cooperation projects. These forms of cooperation are considered effective in: disseminat- JICA’s contribution to South-South and Triangular Cooperation Chie Miyahara, Senior Deputy Director General, Middle East and Europe Department, JICA; Mitsuhiro OSAKI, Senior Deputy Director, Middle East Division 2, Middle East and Europe Department, JICA; Kenta Ono, Deputy Director, Middle East Division 1, Middle East and Europe Department, JICA; Akitoshi Iio, Project Formulation Advisor for Jordan and Iraq, JICA Jordan Office Change in the third country training programme (TCTP) – number of implementing countries, courses and participants Number of implementing countries Number of trainees Source: JICA Number of implementing countries Number of trainees 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995