Kathmandu, February 9

Embassy of Japan in Nepal has handed over a community centre and signed a grant contract for improving water access in Sindhupalchok district.

At a function held here today, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masashi Ogawa handed over a community centre, set of furniture, computers and audio visual equipment to Prakash Man Singh, president of Ganesh Man Singh Foundation.

The newly built Ganesh Man Singh Community Center will provide training related to income generation and run awareness programmes.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City provided financial support for the construction of the ground and first floors to serve as learning centre, while the Japanese embassy provided the fund for addition of two more floors. The construction of the community centre was funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects of the Japanese government for the fiscal 2016-17.

Similarly, in another event held at the embassy, Ambassador Ogawa signed a grant contract worth US$ 240,895 (approximately NRs 24 million) with Ayaka Ishikawa, project coordinator, Peace Winds Japan for improving water access in Sindhupalchowk district.

The support was made under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Scheme for the fiscal 2017-18, and will be implemented by PWJ, an international NGO based in Hiroshima. The grant assistance will be used to rehabilitate water supply facilities in Sunkoshi Municipality of Sindhupalchowk that were affected by the earthquakes in 2015.

The project aims to improve access to water for people affected by the earthquakes and contribute towards the overall reconstruction efforts under way in the country. The project will work, with community consensus, to build or repair water supply schemes through the Participatory Approach to Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure approach, which provides guidelines for communities to understand each other’s needs, prioritise reconstruction, mobilise resources, request assistance, and lead the reconstruction process as per a press release issued by the embassy.

After reaching consensus, the project will build water supply facilities through agreements with the construction committee.