The aim of this initiative is to increase the interaction between researchers from Japan and the United Kingdom who work on development policy issues. Current interaction is limited and further collaboration will be beneficial. Both countries are major donors and have different comparative advantages.

This initial phase will undertake preliminary discussions with institutions in Japan and the UK, set up a website and aim to increase the 'virtual' exchanges of information on development issues. It will also assess the feasibility of more extensive network activities.

The eventual objectives are to have a network to discuss pressing development problems, outline potential solutions, share the latest research findings, develop ‘policy code-sharing’, clarify ODA processes and develop areas of concrete collaboration between the two countries.