Japan Social Development Fund

Tanzania

Alleviating Poverty and Resource Degradation in Coastal Communities

The coastal zone of Tanzania is endowed with a rich diversity of ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove stands and is home to dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and numerous species of fish and sea birds. These resources are critical to Tanzania’s economic and social development and underpin the livelihoods of the coastal communities.

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Colombia

Introducing Innovative Arts-based Education to Displaced and Violence-affected Communities.

In October 2006, the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF), provided a grant of US$950.000 aimed at improving the quality of life of 1,200 vulnerable youth living in the marginalized urban zones of southeastern Cartagena. The project’s original name, “MA: my body, my home”, is based on the japanese concept of ‘MA’, which implies silence, pause, interval and creative space.

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2010 JSDF Annual Report

As well as an opportunity to mark the 10th anniversary of the JSDF, 2010 was notable for the large number of project grants approved and the amount of funding support provided for all programs — 36 new JSDF projects amounting to US$107 million - a doubling of funding from the previous year, and was particularly welcomed by grant recipients during the recent period of global economic uncertainty.

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Messages of support to the People of Japan from friends around the world who have been supported by the Japan Social Development Fund.

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JSDF Marks its 10th Anniversary

JSDF Day Event - January 19th 2011

This major event, held in the Headquarters of the World Bank in Washington aimed to highlight the many successes of the JSDF and share the many lessons that have emerged over the past decade. Like the JSDF itself, the event was an opportunity to hear many voices - the practitioners, NGO partners and those who have benefited from JSDF support.

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Coming Home

Building Post-conflict Communities in Senegal

In 2003, after two decades of fighting for independence, the conflict in the Casamance, in Southern Senegal finally came to an end. Tens of thousand of people who had been driven from their villages returned home. In an effort to support the restoration of normal social and economic activity, a JSDF grant was provided to allow the communities to re-build.

Project Profile

Community-Driven Development

Unleashing the Power of Rural Communities in Sri Lanka

The Village Self-Help Learning Initiative Pilot sought to empower vulnerable groups such as women, youth and farmers to make effective decisions, to plan and implement programs and manage their own funds through participatory development and partnership betwen villagers, the state and civil society. Based on the success of the pilot a program was developed (known locally as "Gemi Diriya") that now serves over 1000 villages and has produced remarkable results, notably in access to credit and improved infrastructure.

Project Profile

Building Local Capacity for Pro-poor Development in Tamil Nadu

India amended it constitution in the early 1990 to strengthen decentralization and local governance. In support of the efforts of the state government of Tamil Nadu, a JSDF project has piloted new approaches to service delivery - which put villagers in charge of their own development. The successful project, which introduced new income opportunities, strengthened village governance (Panchayats) and community-driven approaches was able to work in parallel with World Bank project to adopt and scale up successful innovations.

Project Profile

Early Childhood Care and Development

A pro-minority, multi-disciplinary approach impacts the ethnic poor in remote communities of Vietnam

The JSDF provided a $1.8million grant to support a pilot project for early childhood care and development in Vietnam's three poorest provinces. A first of its kind, the Project effectively expanded both the supply and demand for preschool education and services. Enrollment rates rose by up to 50% and there were significant improvements in health status and family awareness of the importance of education.

Project Profile 

10 Years Empowering the Poorest

Up until the end of September 2011, the Government of Japan has contributed to the program US$680 million, including pledges, and 290 grants totalling US$534 million have been approved.

A list of projects is available in the Annex to the most recent Annual Report (FY10)

JSDF Good Practice Well-Designed Projects

Kenya

Accelerating Rural Women's Access To Agricultural Markets & Trade

To provide vital support to level the field of equality between women and men in the country by strengthening women’s effective representation in the economy and society.

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Turkey

Youth Development and Social Inclusion (TF055800)

To promote and support the participation of young people in the economic and social life of the community through an integrated package of youth-oriented services and opportunities.

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Indonesia

Creative Communities Fund (TF090488)

To engage poor communities and marginalized groups in community development, develop their capacity in using cultural creativity to reduce poverty, enliven poor villages and allow villagers to solve divisive problems collectively.

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Yemen

Health Mother Project (TF094846)

To provide access and quality maternal health care to poor women in targeted districts in rural Sana'a Governorate.

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Lao PDR

Mobilizing Ethnic Communities for Improved Livelihood and Well-being (TF097786)

To enable 28,800 households in ethnic communities in rural areas in Lao PDR to improve their livelihoods and wellbeing through group-based activities.

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Colombia

Soccer Together – Rethinking how to Improve Gender Equity and Inclusion in Education (TF099171)

To develop and adapt a pedagogical model providing skills and values to help vulnerable and poorest girls and boys between 5 to 16 years of age to gain confidence, improve their quality of life, and build a peaceful future.

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