Embassy of Japan announces Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects in Botswana

Deadline: 20 December 2019

The Embassy of Japan is seeking applications for its Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) which is a scheme for supporting people-centred relatively small projects which have a direct and immediate impact on the well-being of disadvantaged communities at a grass-roots level.

The Government of Japan through the Embassy yearly invites interested non-profit organizations to apply for the GGP. GGP is commonly referred to as “KUSANONE” in Japan. “Kusa” means “grass” and “Ne” means “roots” in Japanese.

The Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) was first introduced in 1989 to assist Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) by supporting people centred relatively small development projects which have a direct and immediate impact on the well-being of disadvantaged communities at a grass-roots level.

Scope of Assistance

• GGP aims to assist self-help efforts of NPO’s in: 　　
  • • Social and economic development in rural/urban settings, helping socially or economically weak and disadvantaged people. 　　
    • Empowering local communities for sustainable development, etc.
• GGP aims to meet various needs whose areas include but are not limited to: 　
  • • Education, health/sanitation, water/energy, agriculture/indigenous industry, and environment.
    • Through these projects, GGP aims to contribute to give assistance to those who desire to improve their current situations, to emerge from poverty and to stand upon their own two legs with their self-effort.

GGP can NOT assist the following projects:

• Projects which do not directly benefit the grassroots level, e.g. research activities in higher educational institutes, expanding administrative facilities, etc.
• Commercial activities which are not in line with the GGP assistance.
• Non socio-economic development projects, e.g., artistic, cultural and sports activities Political, missionary, and military activities.
• Projects which benefit only the applicant organisation.

Funding Information and Duration

• 10,000,000 Japanese Yen (approximately 950,000 BWP) is the maximum amount allocated per project under the GGP.
• Once the application is short-listed, the applicant organisation will be requested to submit three quotations from the suppliers and builders, in which the total cost does not exceed 10,000,000 Japanese Yen.
• GGP requests the financial self-contribution from the applicants. Therefore, the applicant organisation will be requested to submit the proof for that purpose, e.g. copy of the bank account and a sworn affidavit.
• The GGP is implemented in one-year cycles as the programme’s budget is allocated annually. Furthermore, the approved project must be completed within one year of the date of the grant contract.

Grant Coverage

• GGP may cover the following items:
  • Purchase of necessary equipment for project implementation,
  • Construction of buildings and small scale infrastructure, soft component along with the project (e.g. capacity building through skills training, etc.),
  • External auditing fee (External auditing is mandatory for projects which request a budget amounting more than 3 million yen or projects for which the Japanese Embassy considers an audit necessary).
• GGP does NOT cover the following items:
  • Government income (e.g. VAT, customs fees, registration fees, etc.),
  • Bank charges,
  • Personnel salary (e.g. administrative costs and personnel expenses, etc.),
  • Construction of office buildings,
  • Construction of buildings that are incomplete or that are currently under construction,
  • Maintenance costs for goods and equipment whether or not funded by GGP,
  • Vaccinations,
  • Purchase of Consumable goods,
  • Purchase of Books,
  • Purchase of IT devices (e.g. PC and printers, etc.),
  • Scholarships,
  • Purchase of Individual possessions and assets (e.g. houses, clothes, etc.),
  • Purchase of food and medicines except for emergency relief and/or medical operations,
  • Purchase of land,
  • Purchase of vehicles,
  • Conducting research and/or project conceptualization.

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-profit organizations (NPOs) such as non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, educational institutes, medical institutes and local governments are eligible to apply. In addition, the applicant organisation must have at least 2 (two) years’ experience in the sector of the proposed project. The applicant organisation is required to have established sound, sustainable and stable foundations in terms of finance, personnel, and project management etc.
• GGP applications will be considered if they:
  • • directly benefit grassroots level in wider range,
    • have substantial outcome by one-shot small-scale grant,
    • could generate sustainable impact in the future.

How to Apply

Applicants can download the application form via given website.

For more information, please visit https://www.botswana.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/relation-economy.html#section3