November 27, 2008
 Japan's Assistance to Quality Education for Children Affected by Armed-Conflict
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The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial assistance of $72,769 USD equivalent to approximately NRs. 5,800,000 to Save the Children Japan in Japan's fiscal year 2008 under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects scheme of the Government of Japan. Save the Children Japan (SCJ) 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 three local NGOs, namely, the Society for Environment Economy Development (SEED), the Social Awareness Center (SAC), and Women for Human Rights (WHR).
SCJ implemented a similar project in JFY 2007 under the same scheme, and this is its second phase.
A Grant Contract to this effect was signed and exchanged today between His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo MIZUNO, 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 to be 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 grant aid for NGO emergency humanitarian assistance projects, etc.
SCJ has produced a remarkable result in the first phase of its project: enrollment rates gone up while the dropout rates abated. The views of local citizens have been reflected in the forming of a School Improvement Plan (SIP). Under the project in its second phase, SCJ will utilize the grant exclusively to enhance the quality of education under SIP in 30 primary schools in Dang and Surkhet Districts, where many internally displaced people reside. The Project enables around 6,000 children affected by armed-conflict, Dalits as well as the children of widows to secure their Rights to Education through improving the school managements. The project is expected not only to provide quality education and learning opportunities to the children suffered from the effects of the conflict, but also to eliminate discrimination against those children living under difficult circumstances.
Speaking on this special occasion, H.E. Mr. MIZUNO commended that the project has proved to be a significant case study improving local educational bodies, and reiterated that the contribution from the Government of Japan is to help the realization of "Education for All by 2015 (EFA)" including construction of schools to improve children's access to primary and quality education, and dispatching many volunteers and experts in the education sector.
Mr. MIZUNO further expressed his belief that the project, as one of Japan's contributions for enhancement of quality education for children affected by armed-conflict, could further strengthen the friendly relationship between Japan and Nepal.
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