About JPN

Background of JPN’s Foundation

The Philippines is one of the countries where Japanese NGO activity flourishes, with about 90 different Japanese NGOs conducting activities there.

In April of 2006, the year in which the 50th Anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and the Philippines, or Friendship Year, was celebrated, the Japan-Philippines NGO Network, or JPN, was founded as a means to promote the exchange of information and partnership between Japanese and Philippine NGOs. On the Philippine side, with encouragement from the Japanese side, the Philippines-Japan NGO Partnership, or PJP, was established to serve the needs of Philippine NGOs. Since then, JPN and PJP have been carrying out activities like investigative research and holding symposiums so as to construct a more creative relationship between both countries’ civil societies.

Objective of JPN’s Activities

To promote mutual understanding and establish strong cooperative relationships between Japanese NGOs and the peoples of the Philippines. To construct a more creative relationship between both countries’ civil societies through the promotion of strong cooperative relationships between Japanese and Philippine NGOs.

JPN Members

As of December 2017, there are 14Japanese organizations and 4 individual whose activities involve poverty alleviation, environment conservation, and protection of human rights.
Programs and Activities of JPN Members

Full Members

ACTION, Aspiring Citizens for Community Empowerment with sunny smile, Inc., Asian Community Center 21(ACC21), IKAW AKO, OISCA, Konkokyo Peace Activity Center (KPAC), Salt Payatas Foundation Philippines, Inc., Japan Nueva Ecija Foundation(JANEF), Health Assistance and Neighborhood Development Support (HANDS), Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center (PNLSC), Helping Hands and Hearts Japan Inc. (HHAHJ), Rissho Kosei-kai Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace, WE21 Japan

Associate Members

Asian Health Institute, Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi/Children without Borders (KnK), LOOB JAPAN

Main Activities of JPN

Japan Philippines NGO Symposium

With the objective of sharing information and establishing closer alliances between Japanese and Philippine NGOs and other sectors, the Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium has been held 3 times as of the end of the fiscal year 2010 (2006:Manila, 2008:Tokyo, 2010:Davao). In each symposium, the representatives of Japan and Philippine NGOs, government and financial groups, university faculty and students were able to participate and deepen their understanding about each other’s activities and develop unity towards achieving mutual goals. As a result, it has established new partnerships and has widened the circle of cooperation. (Note: The MOFA is currently in process of developing a Country Assistance Program Policy)

Overview and Achievements of the Past Symposiums:
The 1st Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium, November 24-26, 2006 (Manila, Philippines)
The 2nd Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium, July 17-19, 2008 (Tokyo, Japan)
The 3rd Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium, August 25-27 (Davao, Philippines)

“Japan Philippines NGO Partnership Fund” Concept

The Japan Philippines NGO Partnership Fund is a fund that NGOs from Japan and the Philippines work on together and contribute to the fund through fund-raising activities and solicitations from donors coming from either the government or private business, based on the declarations or action plans adopted at the past Japan-Philippine NGO Symposiums. The funds may be utilized to subsidize or support the efforts of Japanese and Philippine NGOs like poverty alleviation programs in the Philippines, human resource development projects and different kinds of exchange programs between the two countries and other more recent concerns. Please see here for details.

“Thematic Groups”

JPN members and PJP members have collaborated to analyze the development challenges of the Philippines. They have held learning sessions and have developed coordinated projects based on the expertise of each organization, such as “Children’s Education”, “Children’s Health (Maternal and Child Health)”, “Organic Farming and Rural Development”, “Supporting Flipinos in Japan”, “Peace Building”, “Disaster Management” and “Indigenous People”.

Current Situation Survey and other Research Study on Japan-Philippine NGOs

JPN collects important information for the collaboration of Japan and the Philippines, such as areas of assistance and overview of activities, and issues reports such as the following: “Directory of Japanese NGOs involved in the Philippines”, “Overview of the Activities of Japanese NGOs involved in the Philippines” (2008). These reports are translated into English, and are also utilized among NGOs in the Philippines.

Also, with the sponsorship of ACC21, the Philippines-Japan NGO Partnership (PJP) on the Philippine side has analyzed the past Country Assistance Program for the Philippines by the Japanese government, and developed a *research report on the proposal for a new fund assistance system. This is the basis of the current Japan-Philippines NGO Partnership Fund Concept.
＊”Philippine and Japanese NGOs’ Contribution to Poverty Alleviation and Funding Support Mechanisms for Partnerships – A Research Report -“

JPN Publication

JPN and PJP collaborate to publish reports on research studies about Japan-Philippines NGOs, their activities, a survey on the current situation and Japan’s ODA (Official Development Assistance) for the Philippines.

List of Publications

• “Directory of Japanese NGOs Involved in the Philippines”, November, 2007 (Japanese/English)
• “Overview of Activities of Japanese NGOs Involved in the Philippines – A Survey Report – ” April, 2008 (Japanese/English)
• “Philippine and Japanese NGOs’ Contribution to Poverty Alleviation and Funding Support Mechanisms for Partnerships – A Research Report – ” 2008 (Japanese/ English)
• The 1st Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium “Empowering the Poor for Poverty Alleviation towards 2015: Partnership Building between Philippine and Japanese NGOs” 2006 (Proceedings of the 1st Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium in 2006) (Japanese/English)
• The 2nd Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium “Empowering the Poor for Poverty Alleviation toward MDGs: Partnership Building between Japanese and Philippine NGOs” 2009 (Proceedings of the 2nd Japan-Philippines NGO Symposium in 2008) (Japanese/ English)
• “Research on Possible Partnership Projects for Japan-Philippine NGOs – case studies -” 2008 (Japanese/English)

Follow up on the “Country Assistance Program for the Philippines” by the Japanese Government

In the Country Assistance Program for the Philippines that started in 2008 (5-year plan), it specifies the necessity of cooperation among NGOs of Japan and the Philippines. JPN coordinates with PJP to work on the government aggressively and, also, to realize the Country Assistance Program for the Philippines with the conviction that the ODA (Official Development Assistance) of Japan towards the Philippines be utilized more by NGOs in both countries and that the needs addressed reflect the situation on the ground.

Others

JPN participates in various events with the objective of having more people know about the collaborative work between Japan and the Philippines, and also, to earn more supporters in both societies. (Activities include: participating in the “NGO Fair”, introductory activities and selling of goods)

JPN Steering Committee

Secretariat ： Asian Community Center 21 (ACC21)

How to Join JPN

*Note: Members may choose to pay more than the ￥10,000 minimum fee provided that the amount to be paid is in multiples of ￥10,000 (e.g. ￥20,000, ￥30,000, etc…). Likewise, associate members may choose to pay more than the ￥5,000 minimum fee provided that the amount to be paid is in multiples of ￥5,000 (e.g. ￥10,000, ￥15,000, etc…).

JPN holds learning sessions about once a month. Individuals are welcome to join. Please see “Membership and Donation” for details.

JPN Secretariat

C/O Asia Community Center 21 (ACC21)
1st fl., Asia Bunka Kaikan, 2-12-13, Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 113-8642
TEL:+81-3-3945-2615　FAX:+81-3-3945-2692
E-mail : jpn@acc21.org
（Available on: 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., weekdays）

Access

・5 min. walk from “Sengoku” station, A1 Exit, Toei Mita Line
・10-12 min. walk along Hongo Dori from either “Komagome” station, South Exit, JR Yamanote Line or “Komagome” station, Exit No.2, subway Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line
・15 min. walk along Kyu-Hakusan Dori toward Sengoku from “Sugamo” station, South Exit, JR Yamanote Line
・12 min. walk along Hongo Dori from “Honkomagome” station, Exit 2, subway Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line