Human Security and Japan International Cooperation Agency and Non-governmental Organizations Collaboration (A Case Study of Great East Japan Earthquake/Tsunami)

Abstract

Abstract Human security norm has emerged as a key focus for Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) Charter in 2003. Since then, Japan has been playing a more active role in promoting human security as a leading country. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is an organization under Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), plays important roles in the implementation of Japanese ODA in order to improve the lives of the local people in developing countries. JICA has been strengthening its collaboration with various parties; such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), universities, local governments, and so on to cope with complicated non-traditional security threats. Moreover, a number of Japanese non-governmental organizations activities are undertaken by JICA in order to protect the lives, livelihood and dignity of human beings, which is based on the perspective of human security. In response to Japanese ODA policy on human security, JICA's practice of human security is based on these four kinds of cooperation as follows; 1) cooperation that comprehensively targets freedom from fear (conflicts and disasters) and want (poverty); 2) cooperation that involves through consideration for the social vulnerability; 3) cooperation that establishes mechanisms to protect and empower people; and 4) cooperation that addresses global risks. Based on the implementation, JICA seek closer cooperation not merely from the governmental agencies, but also from international organizations and NGOs. In order to empower communities and individuals, JICA expands its cooperation at local level. This reflects the way of JICA's operation which is based on the bottom-up approach. However, environmental degradation and climate change are directly related to many natural disasters, like flood and drought, which can be understood as a human security issue. In fact, human security conceives natural disasters as a threat to people's survival as well as a trigger of vulnerabilities related to issues of want, which is about people's basic needs and livelihoods (Carvalho, 2011:3). In case of Great East Japan Earthquake/Tsunami hitting in the Northeast of Japan on March 11 th , 2011, it destroyed not only people's lives nd livelihoods but also people ability to access basic goods and public services. Thus, this natural disaster affects human security directly so the links between the natural disaster and human security are clearly seen. The aim of this paper are to deepen the understanding of JICA's operation in response to natural disasters that has become a major threat to human security as well as the cooperation between JICA and Japanese NGOs on the perspective of human security. It also aims to investigate how JICA collaborates with Japanese NGOs in assisting emergency response, providing reliefs and performing rehabilitation activities of NGOs in the domestic context. The paper argues that JICA-NGOs collaboration on human security in the domestic context should be developed since their close collaboration will pave the way for strengthen linkages and cooperation with state actor and non-state actor's activities, in which can be lessons learned for other countries. In this study, qualitative methodology based on documentary research and field research was applied. The latter was carried out through a case study using observations at Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture. The result of this study will shed light on the direct damages and indirect damages of the Great East Japan Earthquake/Tsunami in relation to human security. Furthermore, the roles of JICA and NGOs in collaborative activities for rehabilitation after the disaster will be investigated. Lastly, policy implications of JICA-NGOs collaboration will be proposed in order to address more precious activities that bring about the enhancement of human security to cope with natural disasters.