July 11, 2007
 Japan's Assistance for Quality Education for Children Affected by
Armed-conflict |
The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of eighty-three thousand, two hundred and sixty-three US Dollars (USD 83,263) equivalent to approximately five million, four hundred and twenty eight thousand Nepali Rupees (NRs 5,428,000) to Save the Children Japan in Japan's Fiscal Year 2007 under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme of the Government of Japan. Save the Children Japan will implement the Project for Quality Education for Children Affected by Armed-conflict in Dang and Surkhet Districts in coordination with the District Education Offices and Local NGOs - the Society for Environment Education Development (SEED) and Women for Human Rights (WHR).
A Grant Contract to this effect was signed and exchanged today between His Excellency Mr. Tsutomu HIRAOKA, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mr. Eiichi SADAMATSU, Resident Representative of Save the Children Japan - Nepal Office.
The Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects is a scheme to provide financial assistance for the implementation of social and economic development and emergency humanitarian assistance projects undertaken by Japanese NGOs in developing countries and regions. This scheme consists of six major areas, including support for economic and social development cooperation activities that have a direct impact at grassroots level and emergency humanitarian assistance.
Under the project, Save the Children Japan will utilize the grant exclusively to enhance the quality of education in 30 primary schools in Dang and Surkhet Districts where many internally displaced people reside. The Project will enable approximately 6,000 children affected by armed-conflict, especially girls, Dalits and indigenous children, as well as the children of widows obtain their right to education through the improvement of the management of government schools. The Project is expected not only to provide quality education and learning opportunities to the children who are suffering from the effects of the conflict, but also to eliminate discrimination against those children living under difficult circumstances. Save the Children Japan has its experience in quality education projects, based on the Rights Based Approach, in Danusha and Mahottari Districts supported by Grassroots Technical Cooperation Scheme under JICA.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Mr. HIRAOKA expressed his belief that the Project will prove itself as a significant case study which may help improve local educational bodies. He also reiterated that the contribution from the Government of Japan to the Basic and Primary Education Programs (BPEP I & II), including construction of primary schools in support of Education For All (EFA), has played a supplementary role to improve children's access to primary schools and quality basic education in realization of "Education for All by 2015".
Mr. HIRAOKA further expressed his belief that the Project, as one of Japan's contributions for peace-building in Nepal, will play a significant role in the enhancement of quality education for children affected by the armed-conflict.
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