Project News

The Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) by the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam has been delivered in 4 Northwest provinces (Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau) in collaboration with Sustainable Natural Resource Management Project (SNRM). The ongoing GGP projects are aimed at construction or improvement of water supply systems, ethnic minority boarding school and village roads.

Based on the principal of Human Security, the GGP scheme targets to assist relatively small-scale projects in the fields of water supply, sanitation, education, medical care, agriculture, etc., for benefits of people in developing countries whose lives are endangered and who are living in severe circumstances.
Grants are directly provided from the Japanese diplomatic mission to recipient organizations, such as NGOs (local and international NGOs) and local public authorities in developing countries to ensure that support would be tailored to various development needs in a prompt and timely manner.

SNRM project provided support to 4 applicants, i.e. the local Commune People's Committees (CPCs) during their preparation of applications and communication with the Embassy of Japan.
As a result, all 4 GGP projects were eventually approved. The Grant contract signing ceremony for the GGP between the Embassy of Japan and each CPC was held on March 7th.

From mid to late June, the Embassy of Japan conducted monitoring surveys on the 4 GGP projects.
Among these, the improvement of the minority boarding school was underway in Son La Province with smooth progress of the construction of the kitchen and dining room and the foundation work of the toilets and bathrooms.
It is expected to encourage school attendance and to reduce school dropouts by improving boarding school's conditions, especially cleaner and safer toilets and kitchens.
SNRM project is planning to implement collaborative activities such as provision of improved cooking stoves to the school and delivery of lessons about the roles of forest.

In addition, the construction of a local water supply system is ongoing in Lai Chau Province, with the intake dam and water filter tank almost completed.
It is expected that the daily activities previously interrupted due to lack of water, such as classes in a primary school, can be smoothly undertaken in the village after the water supply system is completed.
The watermelon cultivation, which has been implemented in other local villages with support of SNRM project, will also be replicated to the village.

Although GGP and JICA's technical cooperation differ in the financial and implementation mechanism, collaboration of these 2 schemes, in particular efficient use of their different resources would generate a synergistic effect.
SNRM project will continue to support monitoring of the progress of these GGP projects as part of our collaboration.

Note: Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (website of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam)

The Grant contract signing ceremony for the GGP held on March 7th. The chairman of Pa Khoang CPC in Dien Bien Province is shaking hands with Ambassador Umeda.

Son La Province: the kitchen and dining room of a boarding school under construction. Up until now, meals have been prepared outdoors.

Lai Chau Province: the intake dam.The dam is located in upstream area where clean water is available all year round

Dien Bien Province: ongoing construction of the village road with participation of villagers.This is expected to improve children's travel to school and transport of goods.

Hoa Binh Province: Existing water supply facilities shared by about 20 households in the village.Safe water will stably be supplied to households after the water supply system is in place.