Call for KUSANONE Grassroots Grant for Community Projects (Kazakhstan)

Deadline: 14-Aug-2026

The KUSANONE (Grassroots Human Security Projects) Grant Program is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) framework. It provides financial support to local institutions in Kazakhstan to implement community-level development projects that improve living conditions and address social needs.

The programme has been active in Kazakhstan since 1997 and has supported over 120 projects.

Core Objectives

The program aims to:

• Improve community welfare and safety
• Strengthen social and economic development
• Support sustainable civil society development
• Improve healthcare and social services
• Promote environmental protection and ecological sustainability
• Address local-level development challenges

Key Focus Areas

Social Development

• Community welfare improvements
• Support for vulnerable populations
• Strengthening social services

Healthcare and Public Health

• Medical facility improvements
• Equipment for healthcare delivery
• Enhancing access to health services

Education and Civil Society

• Support for educational institutions
• Strengthening NGO capacity
• Community-based development initiatives

Environment and Ecology

• Environmental protection projects
• Local ecological improvement initiatives
• Sustainable resource management

Infrastructure and Public Facilities

• Small-scale construction or renovation
• Community facility upgrades
• Public service infrastructure improvements

Eligible Applicants

Who Can Apply

• Local government authorities
• Medical institutions
• Educational institutions
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Public organizations
• Public foundations

Organizational Requirements

Applicants must:

• Have at least 10 employees (for NGOs and similar entities)
• Have more than 2 years of relevant experience in the project area
• Demonstrate involvement in social or economic development activities
• Show financial stability and implementation capacity

Project Requirements

Duration

• Projects must be completed within 1 year

Expected Outcomes

Projects must:

• Deliver clear, visible results
• Provide direct benefits to local communities
• Address specific social development challenges
• Demonstrate feasibility and sustainability

Scale of Support

• Grant amount: approximately ¥5 million to ¥10 million per project
• Funding approved by:
  • Embassy of Japan in Kazakhstan
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Eligible Uses of Funds

Allowed Expenditures

• Purchase of necessary equipment
• Construction or renovation of facilities
• Small-scale infrastructure development
• Independent audit services

Important Restrictions

• Supported assets must not generate profit

Ineligible Activities

The program does NOT fund:

• Commercial or profit-making activities
• Religious or political projects
• Military-related activities
• Scientific research or higher education research
• Training programs (general)
• Playground or park construction
• Purchase of toys, books, educational materials
• Sports equipment (except rehabilitation equipment)
• Vehicles
• Animal breeding projects

Non-Eligible Costs

• Administrative expenses
• Taxes and bank charges
• Land purchase
• Office equipment
• Travel and transportation costs
• Utilities and operational costs
• Food and medicines
• Clothing
• Scholarships

Assessment Criteria

Applications are evaluated on:

• Social impact and community benefit
• Feasibility and implementation capacity
• Clarity of project design and outcomes
• Number of beneficiaries
• Organizational experience and stability
• Sustainability of results

Why This Programme Matters

• Directly improves community infrastructure and services
• Strengthens healthcare and social welfare systems
• Supports grassroots development in Kazakhstan
• Enhances environmental and ecological protection
• Builds local institutional capacity
• Ensures visible, short-term development impact

How It Works

Step 1: Identify Community Need

• Define local social or development challenge
• Confirm alignment with eligible focus areas

Step 2: Design Project

• Plan infrastructure, equipment, or service improvement
• Define measurable outcomes and beneficiaries

Step 3: Prepare Application

• Include project scope and justification
• Provide implementation plan and timeline (≤1 year)
• Demonstrate organizational capacity and experience

Step 4: Budget Planning

• Focus on capital equipment or infrastructure
• Exclude administrative and operational expenses
• Ensure cost realism and compliance

Step 5: Submit Application

• Submit through Embassy of Japan process
• Await evaluation by Japanese authorities

Step 6: Implementation

• Execute project within 1-year timeframe
• Deliver tangible community benefits
• Complete independent audit if required

Common Mistakes

• Proposing commercial or revenue-generating activities
• Including ineligible costs (travel, salaries, utilities)
• Weak demonstration of community benefit
• Projects exceeding 1-year timeframe
• Lack of organizational experience in relevant field

Tips for a Strong Application

• Focus on clear, tangible infrastructure or service improvements
• Demonstrate strong local community impact
• Ensure strict compliance with eligible cost rules
• Highlight organizational experience and capacity
• Clearly define number of beneficiaries and outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the KUSANONE Grant Program?

• A Japanese ODA initiative supporting grassroots development in Kazakhstan
  • Focuses on improving local community welfare and infrastructure

How much funding is available?

• Approximately ¥5–10 million per project

What is the project duration?

• Must be completed within 1 year

Who can apply?

• Eligible applicants include:
  • Local governments
  • NGOs (with 10+ staff)
  • Medical institutions
  • Educational institutions
  • Public organizations and foundations

What types of projects are supported?

• Healthcare improvements
• Social welfare services
• Environmental protection
• Small infrastructure development
• Community facility upgrades

What costs are NOT covered?

• Operational costs and salaries
• Travel and utilities
• Food, medicines, clothing
• Vehicles and office equipment
• Scholarships and research

What is required for eligibility?

• At least 2 years of relevant experience
• Financial stability
• Demonstrated capacity to complete project within 1 year

Conclusion

The KUSANONE (Grass Roots) Grant Program supports practical, community-focused development projects in Kazakhstan through Japan’s ODA framework. With funding of ¥5–10 million, it enables local institutions and NGOs to deliver tangible improvements in healthcare, infrastructure, social welfare, and environmental protection within a strict one-year implementation period.

For more information, visit Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Kazakhstan.