Policy Updates

On May 23-25, 2024, the G7 Ministers of Finance met at a summit in Stresa, Italy, where the ministers voiced support for contributions to the IDA, WHO, Gavi, and the Global Fund in the resulting communiqué.

The G7 ministers supported efforts towards a successful 21^st replenishment of the IDA by the end of 2024 through an ambitious policy and financing package. Notably, they did not give a concrete signal that the critical US$100 billion threshold requested by the World Bank will be crossed, nor any indication of the US$120 billion expected by African leaders.

The ministers reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening the governance and finance of the global health architecture and voiced support for refinancing processes of several GHIs, such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the WHO, and the Global Fund, and expressed support for the Pandemic Fund. The communiqué called on the donor community to coordinate efforts and increase investments in global health in line with their capacities to ensure sustainable funding and maximize the impact of available resources.

Following the summit, the C7 pointed out the G7's lack of ambition and financial commitment to international development, including climate adaptation. International civil society organizations criticized the lack of any reference to allocating SDRs to global solidarity.

On May 14-15, 2024, the C7 summit was held at the UN FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, organized by the Italian Civil Society Coalition that led, coordinated, and moderated the C7 2024 process.

Approximately 400 global representatives took part in the event, as well as international decision-makers, including FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, Italian G7 sherpa Ambassador Elisabetta Belloni, Cardinal, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Pope’s envoy for the Russian-Ukrainian conflict Matteo Maria Zuppi, and Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign Marina Ponti.

The official C7 communiqué that listed the international civil society recommendation to the G7’s Leaders around seven key issues was released at the event, which included:

• Economic justice and transformation;
• Climate, energy transformation, and environmental justice;
• Global health;
• Principled humanitarian assistance;
• Peace, common security, and nuclear disarmament;
• Human mobility and migration; and
• Food justice and food systems transformation.

On April 2, 2024, Japan reinstated its financial support for UNRWA, disbursing approximately US$35 million from the FY2023 supplementary budget.

The decision marked a significant step in Japan’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance while ensuring the appropriate utilization of its funds.

To guarantee the effectiveness and legitimacy of the projects, Japan established a Japan - UNRWA Project Management and Monitoring Mechanism. Additionally, Japan aims to promote gender equality within UNRWA governance reform by encouraging the participation of women in leadership positions.

The funds will be distributed among the following programs:

• Gaza: Provision of relief supplies for women and infants;
• West Bank: Provision of medical services;
• Syria: Assistance for vulnerable groups, provision of medical services and vocational training;
• Lebanon: Provision of medical services; and
• Jordan: Assistance for vulnerable groups, assistance for youth.

On March 22, 2024, it was announced that TICAD 9 will be held in Yokohama, Japan from August 20-25, 2025.

TICAD is an international conference led by the Japanese government in collaboration with various international organizations such as the UN, the UNDP, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank. The conference aims to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners, including Japan, to address the developmental challenges facing Africa.

In previous iterations, the conference focused on key issues such as economic development, poverty reduction, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and sustainable development in Africa. TICAD has been held regularly since its inception in 1993 and is considered one of the most significant platforms for African development cooperation.

On February 20, 2024, the Government of Japan signed an ODA loan agreements for nine projects in India, totaling US$1.5 billion to support the achievement of the SDGs.

The projects vary in scope, including promoting start-ups and innovation, developing transportation links, improving water supply systems, enhancing sustainable horticulture, strengthening the country’s climate response, and improving medical education.

The projects are expected to contribute to the achievement of SDG #1, SDG #2, SDG #3, SDG #5, SDG #6, SDG #8, SDG #9, SDG #11, SDG #13, and SDG #15.

On February 16, 2023, Japan committed JPY481 million (US$4 million) to a UNESCO project aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for girls in West Africa.

The funding initiative seeks to address the critical challenges of gender disparities and low educational attainment among girls in the Sahel region and its surroundings. The project focuses on training teachers and improving educational facilities in countries including Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania. It is designed to provide safe, high-quality education for girls, thereby contributing to regional peace and stability.

The effort aligns with the African Union's declaration of 2024 as the “Year of Education” and Japan's broader commitment to supporting education in Africa. This includes previous pledges to improve access to quality education for 4 million girls and substantial financial support aimed at promoting peace and sustainable growth in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea nations.

On January 29, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan established the Taskforce on WPS under the leadership of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The taskforce will aim to enhance coordination across the ministry and integrate Japan’s unique initiatives in areas like disaster risk reduction with the broader goal of advancing WPS. The minister highlighted the critical role of women in achieving sustained peace through their participation in conflict prevention, reconstruction, and peace building, as well as in leadership positions.

A new documentary was also released with the taskforce announcement. It highlighted the contributions of Japanese women working in conflict-affected countries, focusing on the significance and challenges of cooperation in the context of WPS. The documentary explored Japan’s strengths in providing detailed support through the experiences of three women involved in conflict prevention, the international standard Minimum Data Set, and humanitarian assistance to women and the impoverished.

The formation of the WPS taskforce and the stories of Japanese women’s involvement in international assistance displayed Japan's commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment in peace and security contexts. The initiatives aligned with the foundational principles of the UNSC's Resolution 1325 on WPS, which Japan has committed to through the formulation and implementation of three national WPS action plans.

On January 22, 2024, UN Women and the Government of Japan celebrated the success of the Women’s Socio-Economic Resilience Project in Pakistan.

The initiative, supported by a US$2 million contribution from Japan, focused on providing essential relief and protection services to women and girls in flood-affected areas of Pakistan, enhancing their resilience and adaptability to emergencies and disasters.

The UN Women Representative in Pakistan expressed gratitude for Japan’s financial support, pivotal in efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in Pakistan. The funds from the Japanese government were used for delivering essential humanitarian services, including psychosocial support, raising awareness about GBV, assistance for survivors of GBV, help with civic documentation applications, and entrepreneurship development. Relief goods supplied to women included mother kits, baby kits, and inclusion kits, underscoring the commitment to the well-being and empowerment of women and girls in challenging situations.

Pakistani Secretary of the Planning and Development Department of the Government highlighted the significance of Japan’s support during a critical time for the women and girls in the flood-affected areas. The support was crucial in providing essential services and enabling women and girls to assume leadership roles within their communities.

The Consul General of Japan in Karachi reiterated Japan’s commitment to ensuring women’s human rights and combating gender-based violence. In partnership with UN Women, Japan has focused on promoting safety, protection, and nurturing leadership and resilience among flood-affected women and girls. The collaboration is part of a long-standing global partnership between Japan and UN Women, covering various aspects such as gender equality, women’s empowerment, and disability inclusion.

On November 28, 2023, Japan approved a JPY732 million (US$5 million) grant for a UNDP initiative addressing GBV in South Sudan.

The initiative is slated to establish community centers to enhance preparedness and response to GBV. The project addresses the severe impact of GBV in South Sudan, particularly against women and girls, which has been exacerbated by tribal conflicts and a lack of comprehensive support services.

The plan focuses on the Central, Eastern, and Western Equatoria states with the stated goal of creating a safe environment for GBV victims and vulnerable women. Key components included economic empowerment, social reintegration, judicial services, psychological care, technical training, and the development of community centers. The initiative is intended to empower GBV victims, promote social reintegration, and foster economic independence, which contribute to the improvement of inclusive social services in South Sudan.

Japan’s commitment aligns with the women, peace, and security action plan addressing sexual violence in conflict zones. This initiative reflects Japan’s efforts, as expressed during TICAD8 in August 2022, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the capacity of judicial authorities to respond to GBV and sexual violence in conflict zones.

On November 22, 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida participated in the G20 Leaders' Video Conference in India, and discussed crucial global issues including multilateral reforms, climate change, digital governance, and women-led development.

Kishida acknowledged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and welcomed the African Union as a permanent G20 member. He highlighted the complexity of global crises, emphasizing Russia's aggression against Ukraine as a threat to sustainable development.

Addressing multilateral system reforms, Kishida stressed the need to strengthen the UN, including Security Council reform. He proposed enhancing the functions of multilateral development banks to support developing countries facing global challenges. Kishida also called for increased efforts to limit temperature rise, urging all parties to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050 and ambitious emission reduction targets.

In the digital sphere, Kishida emphasized the importance of international governance for AI, introducing Japan's efforts through the Hiroshima AI Process. He expressed Japan's commitment to promoting safe and secure AI globally.

Kishida also underscored the need to close the gender gap and enhance women's participation across all sectors. He outlined Japan's commitment to shedding light on "human dignity" under Brazil's upcoming G20 Presidency, pledging continued contributions to global cooperation in addressing diverse challenges.