The end of the Cold War freed donors' aid policies from the co-ordinate
system of East/West competition around the world. As a result, it was no
longer necessary for the United States and its allies to continue providing
aid on ideological grounds and/or geo-strategic needs. In the post-Cold War
era, it became necessary for donor countries to evolve new rationales to
convince their sceptical publics of the continued necessity for aid. One such
new rationale was the imperative of promoting democracy and good
governance as a way of guaranteeing international peace and security. This
article examines the Japanese response to this development by identifying the
factors that led to the inauguration of the ODA Charter. Thereafter, the
content and intent of the Charter is examined and its application in Sub-Saharan Africa is analysed to highlight the changing objectives of Japanese
aid policy in the continent.