Japan provides Rs. 36 million for livelihood project

The Government of Japan has provided US$311,814 (approximately Rs. 36 million) for the Support for Livelihood of Returnees in Batticaloa District (Phase 2) to be implemented by JEN, a Japanese humanitarian NGO, under the Japan-NGO Cooperation Grant Scheme.

The project contributes to construct 40 agro-wells, provide 40 water pumps, and to conduct workshops to strengthen communities in the eight Grama Niladhari Divisions of Kiran and Chenkalady Divisional Secretary divisions in Batticaloa.

It is envisaged that the project provides stable water supply, ensures livelihood and food security, and improves income of 1,000 people.

The project is the forth phase of the Livelihood Project for Returnees in Batticaloa that JEN has implemented since 2007 through the Japan-NGO Cooperation Grant Scheme as well as the Japan Platform (JPF), an umbrella organization for conducting emergency humanitarian assistance outside Japan under the partnership among the Japanese Government, NGOs, private sector, and economic sector. JEN also has been supporting the emergency water supply for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North, utilizing Rs. 60 million through the JPF.

In addition to JEN, six Japanese Humanitarian NGOs, namely, Save the Children Japan (SCJ), Japan Agency for Development and Emergency (JADE), World Vision Japan, Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP), PARC Inter-Peoples Cooperation (PARCIC), and Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) are providing emergency support for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North through JPF.

The grant contract was singed between Kunio Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan and Shu Nishimaru, Head of Colombo Main Office of JEN, on September 8, 2009 at the Embassy of Japan in Colombo.