Japan International Cooperation Agency

Organizational profile:

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation as well as the sound development of Japanese and global economy by supporting the socioeconomic development, recovery or economic stability of developing regions.

To conserve the natural environment, which is the foundations of human existence, JICA provides cooperation on nature conservation in the following three areas, with the aim of facilitating harmony between the conservation of the natural environment and human activities, while contributing particularly toward attaining SDGs 13, 14 and 15:

1. Climate Change Measures through Sustainable Forestry Management and Ecosystems Conservation
2. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to Improve Livelihoods of Vulnerable Communities
3. Conservation of Biodiversity through Management of Protected Areas and Buffer Zones

JICA in cooperation with Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute established a platform to facilitate REDD+ activities through public-private partnership in Japan. Japan Public-Private Platform for REDD+, as the name states, comprises of wide ranges of actors in the public and private sectors. This platform aims to facilitate REDD+ activities that aim to contribute to addressing climate change, conservation of biodiversity, sustainable development, and poverty reduction by conserving forests in developing countries.

Financing Instrument: Official development assistance (ODA) loans, grants, private sector lending or equity, technical assistance

Project scale: 

JICA's portfolio for the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sector in Japanese Fiscal Year 2022 included JPY 22.057 billion for Technical Cooperation, JPY 6.3735 billion for Finance and Investment Cooperation ODA loans and JPY 3.475 billion for Grants. ODA loans recently approved in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sector are in the JPY 2 million to 30 million range.

Recipient countries/regions/country groups: Global

Recipient categories: Governments, private sector

Eligibility Criteria: Assistance is given to development projects in developing countries. Based on the Japanese government's ODA policies, JICA will promote cooperation activities for the protection and improvement of the environment.

Application guidelines: 

The ODA Project Grants are carried out in a project cycle consisting of six major steps:

1. By conducting a preparatory survey for cooperation as part of ‘project preparation', JICA examines the appropriateness of the project to be carried out by ODA Grants, and develops a plan of the project through discussions with the government of the partner country.
2. At the receipt of ‘official request' of the project from the partner country, JICA examines and appraises the contents of the project.
3. Based on the result of JICA's appraisal, the Japanese government decides to implement a project financed by ODA Grants through ‘approval by the Cabinet'.
4. After approval by the Cabinet, the government of the partner country signs the ‘Exchange of Notes' with the Japanese government, then signs a ‘Grant Agreement' with JICA.
5. Thereafter, the project starts with the government of the partner country as client. In order to ensure proper and smooth implementation of the project, JICA monitors progress of the project and gives advice to stakeholders including the government of the partner country, while respecting the project ownership by the partner country.
6. After ‘completion of the project', JICA prepares an 'ex-post evaluation', and where necessary, provides ‘Follow-Up Cooperation' in the form of materials and equipment procurement, emergency repair work, etc. The result of the evaluation is also referred to in the preparation of new projects.

Last updated: 30 August 2023