Policy Updates

On April 7, 2025, JICA signed a grant agreement to provide equipment aimed at promoting emergency recovery and sustainable economic reconstruction,

The agreement focuses on supporting Ukraine’s recovery from ongoing challenges by enhancing infrastructure and providing critical resources to stabilize its economy. This initiative aligns with Japan’s commitment to fostering resilience and supporting reconstruction efforts in conflict-affected regions.

On April 4, 2025, Japan announced US$6 million in emergency assistance to support relief efforts in Myanmar following the earthquake disaster.

The funding will be used to provide food, shelter, and medical assistance to affected communities. Additionally, Japan has deployed a 32-member Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team to Yangon to assist with humanitarian needs on the ground. This assistance underscores Japan’s commitment to disaster response and its ongoing support for Myanmar during times of crisis.

On April 2, 2025, Japan announced an emergency grant of approximately US$6 million to support those affected by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, 2025.

The grant will be channeled through international organizations to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food, and medical assistance.

This funding complements Japan's broader relief efforts, which include deploying a Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team and emergency relief goods through JICA. The government emphasized its commitment to delivering assistance that directly benefits the people of Myanmar, addressing critical needs amidst ongoing rescue operations.

On March 27, 2025, Japan signed and exchanged notes with Honduras for a grant of JPY640 million (US$4 million) under The Economic and Social Development Program, which aims to improve access to radiotherapy by providing cancer treatment equipment to public medical institutions in Honduras.

The program addresses critical healthcare challenges, including high cancer mortality rates and a lack of radiotherapy equipment. It builds on a trilateral cooperation agreement signed in September 2024 between Japan, Honduras, and the IAEA. The initiative also includes training for cancer treatment specialists to enhance healthcare capacity.

On February 18, 2025, JICA signed a Contribution Agreement with the IDB and IDB Invest, pledging up to US$1.5 billion to the TADAC.

This project aims to support private sector initiatives in the region to help narrow the financing gap for the SDGs commitments within the region, as out of 169 SDGs targets, the region is currently only on track to meet 30 by 2030.

On January 17, 2025, JICA announced a new partnership with the AIIB which aims to support infrastructure development in Asia, with a focus on enhancing sustainable and resilient infrastructure to address regional challenges.

JICA and AIIB will jointly finance projects and share expertise to promote economic growth, environmental sustainability, and poverty reduction in Asia.

On December 17, 2024, the Government of Japan committed US$10 million for the Project for the Recovery of Maternal and Child Health Equipment in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and US$19 million for the Flood Management Enhancement Project in the Indus Basin. The agreements were signed in Islamabad between Japanese officials and Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The health project focuses on equipping 21 facilities in the Hazara Division to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates by improving medical services such as institutional deliveries, caesarean sections, and ultrasound examinations by 2029. It aims to enhance care quality, boost trust in the healthcare system, and ensure equitable access to high-quality services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The flood management project will install 45 hydrological and hydraulic observation networks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and rehabilitate river structures to mitigate economic losses from flash floods in the Indus River basin. Integrating the "Build Back Better" approach strengthens disaster resilience and improves river management data. Japan’s contributions align with its US$77 million pledge made at the Geneva Conference, underscoring its commitment to improving health and disaster preparedness in Pakistan.

On December 15, 2024, Japan hosted the 17^th THMM with China and South Korea, focusing on public health security, healthy aging, and strengthening health systems to achieve UHC.

The ministers discussed improving PPR, tackling AMR, and promoting joint clinical trials and regulatory alignment across Asia. Japan highlighted the importance of strengthening health workforces, fostering innovation, and increasing cooperation between public health institutes. The countries agreed on an updated Memorandum of Cooperation and Joint Action Plan to improve coordinated responses to future global health emergencies.

On healthy aging, the countries shared strategies for preventive care, integrating long-term healthcare systems, and using technologies like care robots and ICT to meet the needs of aging populations. They also emphasized joint research on aging-related care, considering the cultural and demographic similarities of the three nations.

The three countries committed to strengthening health systems to achieve UHC, promoting digital transformation for equitable healthcare access, and supporting initiatives like Japan’s UHC Knowledge Hub, set to launch in 2025. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to collaborative health solutions, with South Korea scheduled to host the next THMM in 2025.

On December 1, 2024, Japan approved a supplementary budget totaling JPY52.4 billion (US$352 million) for global health-related initiatives in FY2024, which focuses on several overarching themes, including combating infectious diseases, enhancing health equity, strengthening health systems in developing regions, and preparing for future pandemics.

It also aims to promote UHC, expand vaccine accessibility, and foster innovation in medical technology. These initiatives are strategically aligned with Japan’s goals of improving global health outcomes while supporting its economic and diplomatic interests.

The funding will be allocated across the following initiatives:

• JPY290 million (US$2 million) to promote foreign medical talent development in the Indo-Pacific region, enhancing health standards and economic growth;
• JPY120 million (US$800,000) to medical inbound projects, linking foreign patient demand to Japan’s medical and regional economic growth;
• JPY22.1 billion (US$148 million) to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and support pandemic preparedness in developing countries;
• JPY7.7 billion (US$52 million) to CEPI to accelerate vaccine development for epidemic-prone diseases like Ebola and coronaviruses;
• JPY2.8 billion (US$19 million) for GHIT to advance R&D for treatments for neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis, and malaria;
• JPY2.4 billion (US$16 million) to WHO for Monkeypox prevention, response, and health system strengthening in outbreak-affected regions;
• JPY200 million (US$1 million) to establish a WHO UHC Knowledge Hub, promoting global health equity and knowledge sharing;
• JPY1.3 billion (US$9 million) for Gavi to strengthen vaccine access and immunization efforts in low-income countries;
• JPY300 million (US$2 million) to support research and development for effective treatments for emerging infectious diseases;
• JPY160 million (US$1 million) to enhance public health crisis management through research on emerging diseases, Mpox, and syphilis prevention;
• JPY6.5 billion (US$44 million) to prepare for the establishment of the National Institute for Health Crisis Management; and
• JPY8.5 billion (US$57 million) to enhance the infection response capacity of designated medical facilities for emerging diseases.

Japan’s strategic allocation of these funds reflects its dual objectives of improving global health outcomes and fostering the global expansion of its health industries.

On November 29, 2024, Japan approved the supplementary budget for FY2024, amounting to JPY13.9 trillion (US$92.4 billion), focusing on alleviating economic pressures domestically, such as rising living costs and energy expenses and maintaining commitments to global engagement and development.

Of the total amount, Japan allocated JPY265 billion (US$1.8 billion) to enhance its engagement with the LICs. This allocation aims to strengthen partnerships with LICs and support initiatives aligned with Japan’s broader ODA strategy, such as infrastructure development, capacity building, and sustainable growth.

Japan designated JPY26.9 billion (US$180 million) for Ukraine and neighboring countries, signaling Japan’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to reconstruction efforts. This funding aligns with Japan’s role in the international response to the ongoing conflict, consistent with its commitments under the G7 framework.

The allocations underscore Japan’s continued emphasis on international development as part of its broader foreign policy strategy, using targeted financial support to foster stability and resilience in key regions.