Abstract
Although Japan has made huge amount of international contribution under UN oriented foreign policy, it has not been appropriately appreciated. However, the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) that was established in August 2000 under Japan's leadership launched the World Water Development Report (WWDR) in March 2003, and continues developing with high appreciation from both developed and developing countries as the first UN System-wide programme on water resources. Its success has been greatly contributing to significant presence of Japan and the analysis of its development has identified key factors that a UN programme on water resources under Japan's leadership can effectively functions. They are: 1) political leadership, 2) multilateral framework, 3) UN System-wide scheme, 4) governmental ownership and initiative, and 5) effective media strategy.
