The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), guided by the principles of human security, provides assistance that leverages Japan’s strengths to address social challenges in developing countries and support the realization of a sustainable world through high-quality growth. Based on the “Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2026 (Basic Policy 2026)” and the “Japan Growth Strategy,” both approved by the Cabinet on July 21, 2026, the preliminary budget request for Reiwa 9 (FY 2027) is as follows.
1. JICA Operating Expense Grants and Facility Improvement Subsidies (Note 1)
The budget includes 178.5 billion yen for JICA operating grants and facility maintenance subsidies. Based on the Reiwa 9 fiscal year budget estimate guidelines, this request represents an increase of 20.2 billion yen compared to the combined total of the Reiwa 7 fiscal year supplementary budget and the Reiwa 8 fiscal year initial budget. The breakdown is as follows: an operating grant of 177.2 billion yen (an increase of 20.9 billion yen compared to the Reiwa 8 initial budget and the Reiwa 7 supplementary budget), and a facility improvement subsidy of 1.3 billion yen for repairs to JICA facilities in Japan (a decrease of 0.7 billion yen compared to the same period).
The newly established “Strong and Prosperous Japan” investment framework calls for various projects that contribute to the implementation of the “Japan Growth Strategy” and to Japan’s economic security. Furthermore, the focus is on measures aligned with the following pillars of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ budget request, including initiatives to promote “development cooperation with a distinctly Japanese, human-centered approach”—such as advancing human security, supporting Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, and providing humanitarian aid in response to the situation in the Middle East.
・Creating a security environment favorable to Japan
・Economic Diplomacy to Make Japan Stronger and More Prosperous
・Strengthening intelligence capabilities and responding to the intensifying “cognitive warfare”
・Strategic cultural diplomacy: Further expanding the “Japan Friends” network
・Strengthening the diplomatic and consular operational framework to fundamentally enhance “diplomatic capabilities”
2. Paid Financial Assistance Division (Note 2)
The proposed budget for fiscal year Reiwa 9 totals 2,327.0 billion yen (an increase of 7.0 billion yen compared to the initial plan for fiscal year Reiwa 8). With the “Basic Policy 2026” and the “Japan Growth Strategy” in mind, these measures focus on initiatives such as realizing an advanced “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” through support for the development of economic and social infrastructure in emerging and developing countries.
* Note 1) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for submitting budget estimates for JICA’s operating grants, facility development subsidies, and grant aid. On August 31, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted its budget estimate for fiscal year Reiwa 9—which includes these operating grants—to the Ministry of Finance. For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ basic policy regarding its budget estimates, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
© Source JICA