Topics (English)

JACO recently opened an information center in the UK, SCVO office, and started the service on April 16th, 2013.
We aim to introduce charitable sector in Japan to the European citizens by providing several resources that we are publishing.
Details of JACO information Center in the UK is as follows;

Address: Mansfield Traquair Center 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB
　　　　c/o Scottish Council for Voluntary Organizations
TEL：01-31-474-6158
Person in charge：Mr. Ruchir Shah (SCVO Policy Manager)

Tatsuo Ohta, President and CEO of JACO introduced an article entitled “A current situation of CSO database system in Japan” in the first edition of quarterly magazine “Korean NPO” published by GuideStar Korea in January 2013.

The article is downloadable from the following links.
-Magazine Cover- .

-Article written in korean-

The article written in English is also available;
-Article written in English-

DATA BOOK 2012 "charitable and non-profit organizations in Japan" is now free to download from URL as indicated below;

Download: PDF File

　　The First Regional Meeting of the Asia Development Alliance (ADA) was held under the theme, “Promote Asian Solidarity for the World We Want: Asian Civil Society Organization (CSO) Strategies on Global Development Challenges” from Jan.31st to Feb. 2nd and Mr. Shiraishi attended this meeting as a speaker.
　　The meeting was aiming to promote international cooperation and solidarity among national and sub-national CSOs to build a global vision and strategy on processes as the post-2015 development agenda, Post-Busan process on aid effectiveness and related sustainable development processes.
　　The agenda was focusing on: sharing of experiences among CSOs on their activities and advocacy work; analysis and reflection on international and regional trends and challenges, with a focus on international processes and meetings; and strategizing and developing and joint action plans.Two parallel sessions were held on: Enabling Environment for CSO Development Effectiveness; and Financing for Development - Beyond the Monterrey Consensus.

JACO hosted a side meeting entitled “Roles and Responsibilities of National Associations” during the CIVICUS World Assembly on 7 September 2012. This side event aimed at defining the roles and responsibilities of national associations and at analysing the ways in which umbrella organisations try to protect and expand civil space, support civil society organizations, their activities, and protect the legal environment CSOs operate in. Participants created an evaluation methodology to help national associations assess their internal capacity and their position in comparison to others. 23 umbrella organizations responded to the survey. The results of this survey are consolidated in a report produced by JACO in January 2013 and available here<PDF>.

　　JACO celebrated the 40th anniversary of its establishment on October 17, 2012, and held symposium “Last four decades of PIC and future prospects” in November 31, 2012. More than 400 CSO leaders, representatives from profit sectors and government agencies attended. We had two keynote lectures by Morio Ikeda, a chair of PIC Commission, Ikuyo Kaneko, a professor of Keio University, and five speakers discussed about history of PIC and future prospects at the panel session.
　　JACO received congratulatory messages from the following organizations and introduced them during the symposium. We thank all our partners for the message for our 40th anniversary.
1. The Association of NGOs in Norway (Norway)
2. The Association of NGOs of Aotearoa (New Zealand)
3. Caucus of Development NGO Networks (The Philippines)
4. China Association for NGO Cooperation (China)
5. Imagine Canada(Canada)
6. Independent Sector (The United States of America)
7. National Council for Voluntary Organizations (The United Kingdom)
8. NGO Federation of Nepal (Nepal)
9. Nigeria Network of NGOs (Nigeria)
10. Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (Turkey)
11. U.S.-Japan Council (The United States of America)
12. Voluntary Action Network India (India)

　　2012 Independent Sector Annual Conference was held in San Francisco on November 11 and 12, and 600 CSO leaders, representatives from profit sectors and government were attended. From JACO, Mr. Tatsuo Ohta, President and CEO, and Mr. Yoshiharu Shiraishi, Research Associate, were attended and shared knowledge and experience with other attendees at the Connection sessions, Breakout sessions, CEO tracks and Plenary sessions.

JACO hosted CIVICUS official side meeting “Roles and Responsibilities of National Associations” during the CIVICUS World Assembly on September 7th, 2012 and created evaluation form for national associations based on provision of services with participants.
　　A mission of this event was to create learning environment among national associations by sharing the evaluation form which each participant have evaluated. It is expected that every participants will be able to evaluate by themselves and recognize what level they are comparing with others. From here onward, each of participants can learn each other by knowing their evaluation results.
　　A report from this meeting and survey is downloadable <PDF>.

　　The AGNA General Annual Meeting was held on September 4th and the CIVICUS World Assembly 2012 titled “Defining a new social contract – making the future together” was held for three days starting from September 6th in Montreal, Canada. It was vast, combining plenaries with interactive working sessions. About 1,000 representatives from CSO sector, government, international institutions across the world, including Mr. Shiraishi, Research associate of JACO, attended CIVICUS WA.
　　He also visited JACO’s partners including Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, Urban Institute, Board Source, International Center for Nonprofit Law in Washington DC and had information exchange as well.

　　From August 22 to 23, 3rd East Asia Civil Society Forum hosted by CANGO (China Association for NGO Cooperation) was held in Beijing, China and more than 100 representatives from China, Korea and Japan were participated. Fist day of the meeting, three speakers introduced a current situation of civil society in three countries. In the afternoon session of workshop, participants shared knowledge, experiences and skills for managing CSOs and a role of CSOs during the relief period.
On August 22nd, Participants visited two local organizations and listened to their presentations on their activities.