Japan Special Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

---

• What is the Japan Special Fund?
• What type of projects does it support?
• What are the procedures for requesting JSF financing for technical assistance projects?
• Is there a limit to the amount of financing?
• How can a consultant offer consultancy services for TAs financed by the JSF?
• Can an individual or private company request technical assistance?
• Who can apply for the JSF?

What is the Japan Special Fund - JSF?

The JSF was established in March 1988. It provides grants to ADB's developing member countries (DMCs) to help prepare projects and undertake technical or policy studies. As a special fund that consists of resources entirely contributed by the Government of Japan, it supports ADB operations linked to poverty reduction in such areas as environmental protection, gender and empowerment, private sector promotion, and financial sector reform.

Top

What type of projects does it support?

The JSF supports the efforts of DMCs towards industrialization, natural resource development, human resource development, and technology transfer. The JSF also supports ADB's efforts to promote regional cooperation and capacity enhancement in the DMCs. The JSF is utilized to

• finance or cofinance, on a grant basis, technical assistance (TA) projects, including project preparation TA, advisory TA, and regional TA, in both the public and private sectors
• finance or cofinance, in special cases and on a grant basis, TA components of public sector development projects or programs financed under loans from ADB
• finance or cofinance private sector development projects or programs through equity investments in private entities

Top

What are the procedures for requesting JSF financing for technical assistance projects?

ADB projects staff prepare a TA proposal based on the prioritized listing in ADB's Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) and/or Regional Country Partnership Strategy (RCPS). Please note that all requests from governments are coursed through the CPS and/or regional CPS and not directly to ADB. The Office of Cofinancing Operations (OCO) reviews and evaluates the proposals and submits them to the Government of Japan (GOJ) in batches during the year. After thorough review, the GOJ releases the outcome of the batch processing through OCO/JSF staff.

Top

Is there a limit to the amount of financing?

There are no official limits but considering the nature of technical assistance (TA), the average size is approximately $600,000. Small-scale TAs of less than $150,000 are generally submitted to ADB's Technical Assistance Special Fund. The amounts of the proposed TAs should be proportionate to the scope of technical assistance requested.

Top

How can a consultant offer consultancy services for TAs financed by the JSF?

Consultants, including consulting firms and experts provided by firms and self-employed individual experts, should come from ADB's developing member countries (DMCs) and must be fully competent for the work to be assigned to them. The selection and recruitment are governed by ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants and its Borrowers.

Top

Can an individual or private company request technical assistance?

No. JSF's purpose is to help ADB's developing member countries (DMCs) restructure their economies, not to benefit an individual or a private company.

Top

Who can apply for the JSF?

Only ADB projects staff can apply for technical assistance financing on behalf of DMC governments, based on the Country Partnership Strategy Paper.