The Japanese government has provided grants totalling $968,390 to two Japanese NGOs in Cambodia for the implementation of medical and educational projects under Japan’s economic cooperation project.

According to a press release from the Japanese embassy in Cambodia on December 14, the grant will be split between two organisations – the Association for Aid and Relief Japan (AAR Japan) will receive $273,851 and the Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR) will receive $694,539.

The press release said the grant to AAR Japan is for their Project for Promotion of Inclusive Education (IE) for Children with Disabilities by Enhancing the Practices in Model Area and Developing an IE Evaluation System.

It also noted that the grant to the FIDR is for their Project for Enhancing Medical System to Practice Paediatric Surgery in Kratie province.

With funding from the Japanese government and FIDR, the Pediatric Surgery Project (PSP) – in collaboration with the Kratie Referral Hospital and the Kratie provincial health department – new buildings for surgical and maternity wards are being constructed.

FIDR said the hospital is relocating its patients from the existing building to other hospital buildings temporarily and then demolishing the old buildings in order to start construction on the new wards this month.

According to the press release, the grant programme for Japanese NGO projects in Cambodia started in 2002 to support efforts to help develop and rebuild Cambodia at a fundamental level.

Through November 18 of this year, the government of Japan had provided more than $37 million for 121 projects focusing on basic education, health, agriculture and demining activities across Cambodia, it said.

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport spokesman Ros Soveacha said that Japanese development partners, including the Japanese government and civil society organisations, have long played an important role in improving the quality of life in Cambodia in many ways, such as educational opportunities for children with disabilities, along with many other projects that have contributed greatly to the development of the Cambodian economy.

“Educational opportunities for children with disabilities are part of the vision for improving education in Cambodia as we look towards achieving important development goals by 2030. The education ministry is totally committed to achieving Cambodia’s fourth sustainable development goal in education.

“With the aid of our development partners from Japan, the ministry will continue in its efforts to improve education quality and make it more equitable and inclusive in order to provide lifelong learning opportunities for all Cambodians,” he said.