Japan supports Lao grassroots projects in health, education, agriculture

Keiko Tagawa at the signing of the documents last week. - VT

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network) The government of Japan has provided grant assistance of US$240,000 for four development projects in rural areas of Laos.

Japan will fund two health projects in Xieng Khuang and Xayaboury provinces, an education project in Huaphan province and an agriculture project in Savannakhet province through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects.

The grant contract was signed last week between the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Keizo Takewaka, and officials from the provinces involved.

Health projects for the construction of water supply systems will be carried out in Namun-Latkhay village, Xieng Khuang province, where safe water is not sufficiently available due to ageing water supply facilities, and Donpung village in Xayaboury province, where there are difficulties with access to safe water due to damage caused by fire, as well as ageing water supply facilities.

The education project will see the construction of new buildings and simplified water supply facilities at Huayyong Lower Secondary School in Huaphan province.

The agriculture project involves the construction of an irrigation system in Nongbualuang village, Savannakhet province.

The wet season rice crop is extremely unstable and low yielding in this area due to frequent widespread flooding.

Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects provides funding for relatively small-scale projects that directly benefit local residents and are aimed at economic and social development in developing countries, based on the principle of human security.

To ensure that “no-one is left behind”, through the rectification of regional disparities Japan will continue to support and improve the basic standard of living at the grassroots level in Laos.

The government of Japan has also provided grant assistance of US$118,000 for mine risk education, vocational training and income generation for vulnerable people in Xieng Khuang province.