Step 1. Defining the Scope of Cooperation
JARCOM follows a needs-oriented approach in identification of priority development issues of member countries. Thus, it does not pre-define its scope of cooperation, but each member country sets forth its priority issues, which are in line both with the country's National Development Strategy and with the focus areas of Japan's ODA policy and JICA Country Assistance Program.
At the same time, potential resource countries are encouraged to define their priority cooperation areas in accordance with the country's development cooperation strategy or with areas of comparative advantage.
List of Priority Needs (MS Excel 36.0 kB)
List of Priority Cooperation Areas (MS Excel 24.0 kB)
Step 4. Project formulation activities
Once concerned parties (resource and beneficiary countries, and JICA country offices) reach basic agreement on the technical cooperation on a certain project concept, detailed project formulation activities are facilitated under the JARCOM mechanism. At this stage, JARCOM provides, upon request, technical and financial support for such activities, e.g. organizing fact-finding missions/studies or project formulation workshops, for further elaboration of the project concept and preparation of a detailed project proposal.
Based on the agreement of resource / beneficiary country governments, the appropriate JICA country offices can apply, through JARCOM Secretariat, for a regional project formulation budget under JICA's "ASEAN Regional Cooperation Program". The application can be sent to JICA Regional Support Office for Asia (RAS) any time of the year in principle. The JICA Headquarter will officially approve and transfer the budget.
Budget Application for Project Formulation Activities" (MS Excel 44 kB)
JARCOM Secretariat (JICA Regional Support Office for Asia: RAS) also assists mobilization of resource persons / experts / project formulation advisors to provide technical assistance for formulation of concrete project proposals.
Step 5. Preparation of official proposals, and submission
Once concerned parties (designated government agencies of resource and beneficiary countries and JICA country offices) reach basic agreement and the project idea is elaborated, an official request for implementation of the project should be submitted by the relevant government authorities to the Government of Japan (through the Embassies of Japan) for approval.
At the same time, in the case of cooperation projects within the framework of Partnership Program (or equivalent collaborative arrangements) between the resource countries in the region (i.e. Indonesia, Malaysia*, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore) and Japan, similar official approval procedures need to be followed in accordance with the fiscal process of respective partner governments.
* Malaysia and Japan usually implement TCTP/MTCP in partnership although an official agreement between the two countries has not been concluded.
JICA supports the Annual Request Survey of the Government of Japan around August when the official proposals are usually submitted by member countries**. The proposals are reviewed by the Government of Japan and the results are known by March (the end of the Japanese fiscal year). After approval by all governments concerned, the official agreement will be made among them.
** In urgent cases, proposals can be made after the Annual Request Survey too.
Partnership Program
Signing ceremony for the Japan-
Singapore Partnership Program (JSPP 21)
in 2001.
This is a comprehensive framework through which the Japanese Government and the governments of developing countries (hereinafter referred to as "partner countries") agree to jointly support the efforts of other developing countries and regions. Based on this framework, JICA works jointly with its counterpart organizations in partner countries to implement cooperation activities, such as the dispatch of experts, the acceptance of participants, and the hosting of seminars, in a comprehensive and methodical manner. There are also occasions when JICA transfers its knowledge and experience to its counterpart organizations in partner countries. As of December 2004, Japan has concluded Partnership Programs with 12 countries: Thailand, Singapore, Egypt, Tunisia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Morocco, Mexico, Indonesia, and Jordan.
Step 6. Implementation and management of Third Country Training Program (TCTP)
Once an agreement is reached for implementation of a Third Country Training Program (TCTP), the course announcement and trainee selection procedures are usually carried out through diplomatic channels of the implementing and beneficiary countries (i.e. through the embassy of the implementing country to the ministry of foreign affairs of the beneficiary country). Generally, an informal information flow, such as from the JICA country office in implementing countries to relevant line ministries/agencies, sometimes functions as a supplementary communication channel in order to ensure timely selection and endorsement of appropriate trainees.
Country-specific TCTP implementation procedures have been studied by JICA country offices and listed below:
In-Country Procedures for TCTP implementation (authorized users only)
* For various procedures between Malaysia and other member countries, please also refer to Malaysia In-Country Procedure Documents.
