The Planning and Evaluation Department of the Japan Foundation is responsible for the mid- to long-term strategic policy-making of the Japan Foundation. In this capacity, it conducts research on cultural policies and the situation of cultural exchange in Japan and other countries, and evaluates the Japan Foundation’s activities. Cross-departmental co-ordination in terms of the Foundation’s participation in various Japanese cultural festivals abroad also falls within the responsibility of the department. In addition, it endeavours to promote cultural-exchange activities of grass-roots level and disseminates the relevant information for that purpose.