On 17 July, the Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP) held a meeting featuring reports by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) —partner organizations of JPFP for over half a century—on their activities and achievements supported by Japan. Moderated by Hon. Dr. Makishima Karen, Vice Chair of JPFP, the meeting opened with remarks by Hon. Kamikawa Yoko, Chair of JPFP. She noted that “as conflicts and humanitarian crises have become increasingly protracted in recent years, international cooperation is expected to go beyond humanitarian assistance and support people in rebuilding their lives and moving toward self-reliance”. She also emphasized that leveraging the respective strengths of diverse partners through public-private partnerships and other forms of collaboration is crucial for enhancing the quality and sustainability of assistance.

In the UNFPA report, Ms. Narita Eiko, Chief of the UNFPA Tokyo Representation Office, introduced an example of blended finance in which UNFPA collaborates with a Japanese company, supported by the Government of Japan’s supplementary budget. She explained that in Tanzania, this initiative provides a sustainable business model that creates employment opportunities for single mothers through the production, sale, and distribution of menstrual products, while ensuring girls’ access to education during menstruation. For IPPF, Ms. Fukuda Tomoko, Regional Director of the IPPF East and Southeast Asia and Oceania Region, presented an update on IPPF Afghanistan (AFGA). With support from the Government of Japan, 21 Family Health Houses (FHHs) in Logar and Parwan provinces provided antenatal care and delivery care, child health services, family planning, nutrition support, psychosocial care, and other services, contributing significantly to improving the health of women, children, and other community members in areas with limited access to healthcare.

Following the activity reports, UNFPA and IPPF submitted a joint request to JPFP calling for the continuation and strengthening of Japan’s international cooperation in the fields of population and SRHR. The request highlighted the vital role of both organizations’ activities, particularly during humanitarian crises, and expressed strong expectations for Japan to continue demonstrating leadership in these areas.

During the discussion, Hon. Nishiyama Naotoshi asked about food assistance. In response, Ms. Narita cited an example from the Rohingya refugee camps, where UNFPA collaborated with the World Food Programme (WFP) to combine antenatal care with food assistance to reach people who do not use clinics or government facilities. She explained that this integrated approach resulted in an approximately 30% increase in women accessing antenatal care, highlighting the effectiveness of such multi-sectoral approach. JPFP members echoed this, emphasizing that humanitarian settings involve diverse needs and that the Government of Japan should further enhance the effectiveness of its assistance through strategic international cooperation.

A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan also commented on the reports, expressing appreciation for the way UNFPA and IPPF draw on their respective strengths to deliver services steadily to vulnerable people in need. While noting that Japan’s international assistance faces a challenging environment due in part to the depreciation of the yen, the Ministry emphasized that such assistance is an important investment that ultimately contributes to the safety and security of the Japanese people. The Ministry stated that it would continue to promote public understanding while advancing Japan’s efforts in the fields of global health and population issues.