In 1990, Japan agreed to provide financial support for the IMF’s technical assistance to its member countries to strengthen their capacity to formulate, implement, and maintain macroeconomic and structural adjustment programs. Since then, Japan has been, and continues to be, the largest contributor to the IMF’s technical assistance (TA) activities.1 Japan’s contributions are provided through the Japan Administered Account for Selected Fund Activities (JSA).2 In addition, Japan also finances two scholarship programs—one under the JSA and the other under a separate account, the Subaccount for Japan Advanced Scholarship Program.
This report starts out with a brief description of the IMF and its activities, focusing in particular on its TA activities. The report then describes in greater detail the JSA—including its objectives, size, scope, and use, as well as assessments of its activities, with a focus on fiscal year 2006—and the TA activities and scholarship programs that it finances.3