Photo/Illutration A recent report from the Board of Audit highlighted missed targets in Japan’s Official Development Assistance projects. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

A portion of Japan’s foreign aid has failed to achieve its intended goals, with utilization rates falling significantly short of initial targets, the Board of Audit revealed.

A total of 4.1 billion yen ($26 million) of taxpayer money has been spent on five unsuccessful Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects, prompting the board to urge aid officials to make improvements.

The board conducted an audit of 146 ODA projects carried out between the 2004 and 2023 fiscal years.

One notable case involved a telecommunications network development project in Cambodia, where 2.9 billion yen was lent to build a 400-kilometer fiber-optic network for fixed-line telephone services.

However, the project was significantly delayed and spanned over 11 years. During this time, businesses from China and Vietnam entered the market, capturing a substantial portion of the customer base.

As of fiscal 2022, the network's usage rate stood at a mere 0.16 percent, far below the initial target of 61 percent.

Another example highlighted the painfully slow progress of a grant project in Tanzania.

A local organization received a grant of 15.66 million yen to construct two dormitories for girls at a local secondary school. 

As of May, despite the project being initiated over 18 years ago, one dormitory remained incomplete and the other lacked proper bathroom facilities.

The board emphasized the importance of on-the-ground monitoring for these projects and making necessary adjustments to initial plans.

In response to the audit findings, the Foreign Ministry has pledged to address the identified issues.

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