S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL: JAPAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000334 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/GWI: YU WENCHI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO AID CDC COM TRSY SUBJECT: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL: JAPAN REF: STATE 00012531 TOKYO 00000334 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Embassy Japan proposes three seed grants to a total of two Japanese NGOs, and one Japan-based educational institute, to assist the implementation of new programs that promote women's political, economic, and social advancement in developing countries. Each of the grantees selected has a strong record of work, and a proven capacity to implement the new programs. Each grant will be contingent on the organization matching S/GWI's grant with a grant of equal or greater size either from the Government of Japan, the organization's own resources (including resources in kind), or funds generated from corporate or private donations. Embassy Tokyo's goal in this endeavor is to further strengthen and highlight areas of humanitarian cooperation in women's development issues between the United States and Japan, especially at the grass roots level. Japan for Sustainability -------------- ¶2. (U) Japan for Sustainability is a small women-run NGO that is considered to be a leading communication platform for sustainability issues. Embassy Tokyo proposes giving Japan for Sustainability $30,000 to bring two women from developing nations to work as interns in their office in Japan for one year. The goal will be for the women to then return to their home countries and start a similar sustainability communication platform in their home countries. As climate scientists consistently indicate, the brunt of the effects of climate change can be expected to fall most heavily on the women and children of developing countries. Costs: Monthly intern stipend and living allowance: $1,500 x 12 = $18,000 x 2 = $36,000. Transportation costs: round trip estimate: $1,000 x 2 = $2,000. Country return transition and website/communication platform start-up fund: $11,000 x 2 = $22,000. Total costs of the internship program : $60,000. One half to be covered by S/GWI grant, one half by Japan for Sustainability. Reference: http://www.japanfs.or/en/aboutus/html Kamonohashi Project -------------- ¶3. (U) Kamonohashi Project is a well-regarded innovative social entrepreneurship started by a Japanese woman that attempts to eliminate the problems of child prostitution and poverty by providing training and work in Cambodian source regions. Its model features the use of product designers to help the women and children produce fine-quality products that can be sold at high-value added prices in Japan and the developing world. Embassy Tokyo proposes a $30,000 matching grant to assist Kamonohashi Project in the next step of its social entrepreneurship business plan: marketing, including web-based marketing, and replication of its successful Cambodian project to another developing country (TBD). Costs: Website design (in English, and Japanese): $10,000. One woman from Cambodia and one woman from the next target country to intern at Kamonohashi Project for one year: living allowance $1,500 x 12 = $18,000 x 2 = $36,000. Transportation costs: round trip estimate: $1,000 x 2 $2,000. Country return set-up costs for next target country: one year salary: $6000. Travel costs for one year in country to identify products made by local women that can be displayed on the website: estimate $2,000. Product purchase and shipping costs for pilot county products: $4,000. Total costs of the internship program : $60,000. One half to be covered by S/GWI grant, one half by Kamonohashi Project. Reference: http://www.kamonohashi-project.net/english/ The Japanese Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) The Japanese Red Cross International College of Nursing is one of Japan's leading institution in the field of nursing education. Moreover it is vitally active in a number of developing programs for women and children in the developing world, as evidenced by the activities of its President, Dr. Etsuko Kita, Japan's 2010 Nominee for the Woman of Courage Award. Of note in the college's activities is a scholarship program that trains nurses from the TOKYO 00000334 002.2 OF 002 developing world. Embassy Japan proposes granting $40,000 to establish an $80,000 "Tom Dooley Scholarship Fund" to be used by the Japanese Red Cross International College of Nursing to financially assist returning nurses from the developing world who chose to work in the poorest, most medically under-served regions of their countries. Funds may either be dispensed for part-time, or full time work in these areas. Total costs of the scholarship program: $80,000. One half to be covered by S/GWI grant, one half by The Japanese Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing. Reference: http://www.jrckicn.ac.jp/english/index/html ¶5. (U) Embassy Tokyo believes all of these pilot projects have essentially equal importance and potential but does provide the following priority ranking: 1: Japan for Sustainability; 2: The Japanese Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing, 3: Kamonohashi Project. ROOS