【More About CLAIR】

The JET Programme is only one aspect of CLAIR's functions. CLAIR also promotes the international exchange activities of local governments, supports the creation and development of international affiliation exchanges, such as sister-city ties, by providing information to interested parties and helping to introduce prospective exchange partners.

Furthermore, CLAIR supports the international cooperation activities of local governments through various programmes. For example, CLAIR implements a programme that brings foreign local government officials to Japan for training at local government bodies in fields such as general administration, agriculture, and environmental protection. There is also a programme through which Japanese local government officials with experience in international cooperation are dispatched overseas as experts in various fields.

As there is a growing need for local public bodies to collect and analyse information regarding foreign systems and policies, CLAIR also implements research projects on themes of interest to Japanese local public bodies in conjunction with CLAIR’s overseas offices.

With its headquarters in Tokyo, CLAIR has a network of domestic branch offices in each prefecture and designated city in Japan. In addition, CLAIR has established a network of overseas offices in seven major cities around the world: New York and London (est. 1988), Paris and Singapore (1990), Seoul (1993), Sydney (1994), and Beijing (1997).

Finally, CLAIR is working to support the development of the human resources necessary to promote local level internationalisation in Japan. CLAIR creates opportunities for Japanese local government employees to experience life working abroad. CLAIR also offers support for the internationalisation polices of local areas in Japan and is working to strengthen networks, such as the one for recognised local international exchange associations, which are found throughout the country.