Toshikazu Isomura, Consul General of Japan, said Wednesday that projects being implemented under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between the people of Japan and Pakistan. He was addressing the briefing session organized by the Consulate General of Japan on GGP Programme for Non-Governmental Organizations.
The Consul General in his opening remarks expressed his hope that the event will help NGOs better understand the purpose of the GGP program and design quality proposal to secure financial assistance from the Government of Japan.
The GGP Programme is an initiative of the Japanese government with the belief that in consideration of the enormity of the challenges being faced by the world today, development assistance should not only be limited to governments, but also be channeled to the grassroots level through civil society organizations. Since it began in 1989, the Japanese government has supported more than 380 projects under the GGP Programme, with a contribution of more than 2.8 billion Japanese Yen, in Pakistan.
Since 1989, the Government of Japan has supported more than 380 projects in different sectors like primary health, basic education, agriculture, vocational training, special education and infrastructure development in Pakistan under the GGP program, with a contribution of more than 2.8 billion Japanese Yen [USD 26 million].
More than 50 NGO representatives from across the country participated in the today's briefing session. The briefing session aimed at providing detailed explanation of GGP program to participating NGOs. The briefing also provided interactive for a for the NGOs' representatives and officers of the Consulate General of Japan to discuss development needs at the grassroots level and explore ideas for projects which are sustainable and would create lasting impact on the lives of underprivileged communities.
The GGP program is flexible and it provides timely support to NGOs. During the briefing session, the NGO representatives also learned about selection criteria of potential development projects and GGP funding mechanism.