Japan-Thailand ODA
Cultural Grant Assistance
Many developing countries are making conscious efforts toward nation-building not only in the area of national socioeconomy but also cultural activities and education.
The Cultural Grant Aid scheme was introduced in 1975 as part of the official development assistance (ODA) for the purpose of contributing to the promotion of education and cultural activities.
Governments and organizations involved in cultural and educational activities in more than 120 countries throughout the world have expressed their gratitude for Japan's Cultural Grant Aid.
In FY 2000, "Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage" to assist large projects relating to cultural heritage and "Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects" designed to provide small-scale assistance are newly introduced in addition to the conventional Cultural Grant Aid, widening the scope of cultural assistance. Of these two aid schemes, Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects aims at providing direct assistance for so-called grassroots organizations, including local public bodies and NGOs, in developing countries. Meanwhile, Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage makes it possible to assist the construction (including the construction of facilities to display or store excavated articles and cultural items relating to cultural heritage) and improvement (including the construction/improvement of an access road to a cultural heritage site) of facilities designed for the restoration, storage and utilisation of cultural heritage which has hitherto not been possible under the conventional Cultural Grant Aid scheme.
| Cultural Grant Aid | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Grant Aid | Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage | Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots projects |
|
|
|
| Cultural Grant Assistance to Thailand | Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage to Thailand: We have never grant this aid to Thailand. | Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects to Thailand |
Application Form   | ||
Ｉ.What is Cultural Grant Aid?
Cultural Grant Aid is a scheme whereby up to ¥50 million per project can be granted to cover the procurement cost of equipment to be used for various cultural and educational activities as well as the cost of equipment transportation and installation. Since its launch in FY 1975 up to FY2001, Japan granted a total amount of ¥46,198.3 million for 1,124 projects in 126 countries/areas under this scheme. The equipment provided for developing countries under the scheme is playing an important role in the preservation of cultural articles and cultural heritage, the implementation of various projects at theatres and museums and the promotion of educational and research activities.
The government of Japan has provided total amount of 1,742.6 million yen for 41 projects of the government of Thailand up to the fiscal year 2001.
Subject Countries
The subject countries of the scheme are developing countries of which the GNP per capita is not more than US$5,225 (Group IV of the loan criteria of the World Bank*).
*The World Bank has established its own loan criteria in correspondence with the GNP per capita. There are four groups, ranging from Group I (up to US$775) to Group IV (from US$2,996 to US$5,225). Countries classified in Group V (more than US$5,225) cannot receive a World Bank loan. Japan's cultural grant aid is available for countries classified in Group I through Group IV.
Recipients
As aid is provided in form of a grant for the government of a recipient country, the recipient is the national government of an eligible country.
Application Method
The organization (for example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Culture) acting as the window for the recipient country must compile target projects across the country and make a blanket application to the Embassy of Japan.
II．What is Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage?
Under the conventional Cultural Grant Aid scheme, Japan has been providing assistance for the preservation of cultural heritage through the provision of equipment required for the restoration of world class cultural heritage sites, including Angkor Wat. Some of the requests made by developing countries, however, require large-scale equipment which cannot be provided within the framework of the conventional grant aid scheme. Moreover, there are cases where the provision of equipment alone cannot ensure the effective preservation of cultural heritage.
With the growing recognition that cultural heritage sites in many parts of the world are not only the assets of individual countries but also "common assets of mankind", there has been increasing interest in Japan in cultural heritage. The appointment of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura from Japan as the Secretary-General of UNESCO in 1999 greatly stimulated the expectations of developing countries of Japanese international cooperation for the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide.
Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage is introduced in FY 2000 in response to the growing interest in Japan as well as the expectations of the international community. Since its launch up to FY2001, Japan granted a total amount of ¥855.8 million for 4 projects in 4 countries/areas under this scheme.
Subject Projects
Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage can be provided for the following types of projects.
- Provision of equipment and materials for the preservation and/or restoration of a cultural heritage site.
- Construction of facilities relating to the preservation of a cultural heritage site (mini-museum and warehouse for excavated articles, etc.)
- Improvement of the surrounding area of a cultural heritage site (access road and protective fencing, etc.)
Subject Countries
In principle, developing countries of which the GNP per capita is not more than US$5,225 can apply for grant aid for cultural heritage.
Recipients
As aid is provided in form of a grant for the government of a recipient country, the recipient is the national government of an eligible country.
Application Method
As aid is provided in form of a grant for the government of a recipient country, the recipient is the national government of an eligible country.
The organization (for example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Culture) acting as the window for the recipient country must compile target projects across the country and make a blanket application to the Embassy of Japan.
Examples
Examples of grant aid for cultural heritage approved in FY 2000 include the provision of survey and excavation equipment for Carthaginian and Roman ruins in Tunisia and equipment and tools to assist archaeological activities at ruins, mainly the ruins at Copan and other ruins of Mayan civilisation, in Honduras.
III．What is Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots projects?
Japanese Cultural Grant Aid was conventionally provided for national government or public organizations only there by excluding NGOs and other non-governmental bodies as recipient. There was also a restriction, i.e. a long period was required from original application to the actual implementation of aid due to the need to conclude the exchange of notes, etc. As such, conventional Cultural Grant Aid could not have responded quickly and precisely to the need for small grant aid.
To improve the situation, Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects was newly introduced in FY 2000. This new scheme expanded the scope of cooperation, providing carefully planned assistance to directly benefit the so-called grassroots level in developing countries through assistance for NGOs and local public bodies. Since its launch up to FY2001, Japan granted a total amount of ¥178.16 million for 37 projects in 32 countries/areas under this scheme.
Subject Projects
The new scheme is the same as the conventional Cultural Grant Aid scheme in that equipment is provided under the scheme. However, Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects can also provide a grant to cover the transportation cost so that musical instruments, etc. currently in use can be effectively used in developing countries.
Subject Countries
The subject countries are developing countries of which the GNP per capita is not more than US$5,225.
Recipients
The recipients are mainly NGOs and local public bodies. Application Method A NGO or local public body makes a direct application to Japan Information Service, Embassy of Japan (Tel: 02-259-0234 - 7).
Examples
The main projects approved for Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects in FY 2000 include the provision of equipment to restore ruins for the Angkor Ruins International Study Team organized by Sophia University which is active in Cambodia, the provision of audio equipment for the Sofia Central Puppet Theatre in Bulgaria and the provision of a mobile planetarium for the Association of Astrology Enthusiasts in Paraguay.