GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR GRASS-ROOTS HUMAN SECURITY PROJECTS (GGP)
Press Statement by YAB Chow Kon Yeow,
Chief Minister of Penang
Komtar, George Town, 5 August 2020
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Together with His Excellency Mr. Kanoya Shinichiro, the Consul-General of Japan in Penang, I am delighted to announce that the Government of Japan is offering a small scale financial assistance scheme known as the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP).
Commonly referred to as Kusa-no-ne in Japan (with “Kusa” meaning ‘grass’ and “Ne” meaning ‘roots’ in Japanese), this assistance scheme has been in Malaysia since 1989 based on the agreement between the Governments of both countries in supporting grass-roots projects run and operated by non-profit organisations including local NGOs. To date, 149 projects have been implemented in Malaysia totaling over RM17.7 million in funding assistance and contributed towards enhancing the welfare of Malaysians. Penang has seen 6 diverse projects benefitting from the GGP, the latest being the fishery rehabilitation project by the Department of Fisheries in 2005. Other earlier recipients from Penang included –
- 1989: Penang Skills Development Centre
(Supply of Equipment for Skill Training for Manufacturing and Service Industries in Penang)
- 1997: Asia Community Service Bhd.
(Early Intervention Programme Centre Project)
- 1998: AMD-Rotary-Dialysis Centre
(Upgrading of Medical Service Project)
- 1998: Rumah Charis
(Setting up a Proper Kitchen Project)
- 2000: Penang Wheelchair Tennis Association
(Wheelchair Acquisition Project)
The maximum grant amount is approximately RM330,000 per project, with the aim of supporting projects that promote socio-economic development such as primary health care, public welfare, primary education, and environment. The grant assistance is tenable for funding of hard components of the particular project such as construction of facilities and procurement of equipment. It does not, however, cover soft components such as consumables, maintenance and administrative costs.
The application deadline for year 2020 will be on 31 August 2020. The application form and other relevant information is available on the Japanese Embassy’s official website at undefined.
While I strongly encourage all eligible parties to apply for this GGP programme, applicants are also advised that all applications will be screened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The evaluation process will take approximately six (6) months and disbursement of grant is scheduled to be in March 2021.
In these unprecedented times of rising health and economic challenges brought on by Covid-19, I am hopeful that this generous gesture by the Japanese Government will lend a helping hand to those most vulnerable, and that local communities in every corner will not be left behind.
CHOW KON YEOW