AKP Phnom Penh, March 01, 2021 --   

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide US$2,235,364 for Promoting Community Development through Mine and Cluster Munitions Clearance, and for Capacity Building of Youth, under the framework, The Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects. 

The Grant Contract was signed here today between Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. MIKAMI Masahiro, and representatives of the recipient organisations.

According to a press release from the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh, some US$873,827 of the total amount will be given to Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS) to carry out the project ‘Reconstruction Support with Demining in Banteay Meanchey: RSDB (Year 1)’, and US$889,424 others for the ‘Reconstruction Support with Cluster munitions disposal in Stung Treng: RSCS (Year 1)’.

In the first project, JMAS will transfer the efficient and safe clearance mines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs) method to Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) aiming to enhance its capacity and accelerate its effort in making the nation land safe. The organisation will also provide agricultural training for paddy cultivation for farmers on the site of cleared land as experimental fields, and assist Agricultural Cooperatives (AC) formulation to develop new markets. 

For the second project, JMAS will transfer the efficient and safe cluster munitions clearance method to CMAC using demining machines, de-cluster machines, and drones in contaminated areas where mines and   cluster munitions mixedly remain. The organisation will also provide agricultural training for growing various types of agricultural crops during both dry and rainy seasons for farmers on the site of cleared land as experimental farms, cooperating with Stung Treng Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.   

The rest, US$472,113, will be used for ‘Capacity building of Youth in Pailin, Cambodia: Reinforcement of Community Learning Centre (CLC) (Year 2)’ to be implemented by Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK).    

In this project, KnK will continue to support youth, especially those who suffer from unstable jobs, lack of living skills, and dropping out of schools. For the second year of this 3-year project, 4 newly added CLCs will be aimed to enhance its conditions and promotion of participation in CLCs. Through providing   enhanced vocational training contents and conditions of CLCs to the youth, they will gain education or skills for creating a foundation of better life in their future. 

The Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects started in Cambodia in 2002 to support activities by Japanese NGOs to help Cambodia's reconstruction and development efforts at the grassroots level. Since 2002, the Government of Japan has provided over US$44 million for 136 projects, mainly in the fields of   primary education, health, agriculture and mine clearance in Cambodia.

                                                 (Photo: Embassy of Japan)

By C. Nika