Japan: Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) & Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) | Examiner for Environmental Guidelines (EEG)

  • Overview

    Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is a policy-based financial institution of the Japanese Government. JBIC promotes Japanese exports, imports, and economic activities overseas. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is part of the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) and provides bilateral aid directly to developing countries in the form of technical cooperation, Japanese ODA loans, and grant aid.

    Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

    Created In: 2012

    Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

    Mission: JBIC’s mission is to contribute to the sound development of Japan and international economy and society by conducting financial operation in overseas development, international trade, and economic policy.

    Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

    Created In: 1974

    Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

    Mission: JICA works on human security and quality growth.

    The Accountability Office: Examiner for Environmental Guidelines (EEG)

    Established in: 2003

    Functions: Compliance review and dispute resolution

    Visit the JBIC EEG’s website

    Visit the JICA EEG’s website 

    The Accountability Office

    Both JBIC and JICA have an Examiner for Environmental Guidelines (EEG) to ensure compliance. The EEG may review projects for which JBIC or JICA provide funding and in which substantial damage has occurred or is likely to occur in the future due to non-compliance with the guidelines.

    Submit a complaint to the JBIC or JICA EEG if:

    • you are two or more people who live in a country where JBIC or JICA has financed a project;
    • you have suffered or are likely to suffer harm from the JBIC or JICA project;
    • the harm has resulted from JBIC’s or JICA’s failure to follow own Guidelines; and
    • you have made efforts to address the problem with both the project sponsor and operational department of either JBIC or JICA before filing a complaint.

    The EEG conducts an eligibility assessment and then decides whether or not to investigate. The Examiner may also attempt to mediate the dispute through a dialogue phase. The Examiner will issue a report on the findings regarding compliance with the Guidelines. The operational department must respond, and the Board decides what action to take, if any.

    For more information, see our Accountability Resource Guide, or visit JBIC’s website or JICA’s website.

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  • Documents

    Institutional Documents

    JICA Objection Procedures (2022)

    JBIC Objection Procedures (2022)

     

    Documents By Release Date

    Jan. 2022 – JICA released updated Objection Procedures that included improvements that increase the accessibility of the mechanism and reduce conflicts of interest.

    Jan. 2021 – Accountability Counsel and Friends of the Earth U.S. submitted recommendations on the Objection Procedures of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. We highlighted a number of glaring gaps in the Objection Procedures, including a lack of full-fledged dispute resolution and advisory functions, onerous filing requirements, and a flawed process for drafting investigation reports and management responses.