The evolving role of development cooperation agencies in fostering social change: Japan international cooperation agency as a case study

Motoharu Wakabayashi, Michiko Iizuka and Takayuki Hayashi

Innovation and Development, 2025, vol. 15, issue 2, 443-471

Abstract: Innovation is becoming an important issue in international development cooperation. As the main driving force behind innovation had been the profit-seeking behavior of the firm, integrating innovation in the activities of international development cooperation requires a new framework. Here in this study, concept of social innovation was explored to create a framework so that role of each actor – government, private sector, civil society – are identified to facilitate collaboration to respond social challenges in developing countries, while international cooperation agency act as an intermediary. The validity of framework was tested using a project implemented in Africa and Japan by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The case demonstrates how innovation can be approached by international cooperation agency, acting as an intermediary, stimulating innovation not only in the recipient but also in the donor country.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/2157930X.2024.2376957

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