The Government of Japan provided assistance worth approx. AUS$1,426,000.00 to the Republic of Nauru to strengthen structural reform efforts in key economic sectors, upgrade community brackish water well in Western communities (Boe, Aiwo, Denig, Nibok and Uaboe) of the country, and to procure an additional 10,000 litre water delivery truck to alleviate the problem associated with distribution of water. The funding was sourced from the Government of Japan’s Non Project Grant Aid (NPGA) Program and Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme respectively. 

The exchange of notes ceremony formalising these assistances was held in the Government of Nauru’s Cabinet board room, at 11.00 a.m. on 13th March 2010, where the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Nauru, His Excellency Yutaka Yoshizawa signed and exchanged notes with Nauru’s Minister for Finance and Sustainable Development, Economic Planning, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Honourable Dr. Kieren Keke and Minister for Utilities of the Government of the Republic of Nauru, Honourable Frederick Pitcher, formalising Japan’s assistance under NPGA and GGP respectively.

Details of NPGA and GGP project are as follows:

Non Project Grant Aid (NPGA)
Japan’s assistance has materialised from the initial request by the Government of the Republic of Nauru. The main purpose of Japan’s assistance of JPY 100 million (approx. AUS$1,245,000.00) is to ensure that Nauru moves ahead promptly with the planned structural reform programmes for rapid development, particularly, by reducing the financial burden of purchasing necessary products, such as increasing cost of fuel imports for promoting economic structural adjustment efforts.

 

Project for Upgrading of Water Supply System in Western Communities (Boe, Aiwo, Denig, Nibok and Uaboe) funded under Japan’s GGP Program
As Nauru has very limited water resource in the island, most districts have some community brackish water wells to provide back-up for the rain water and desalinated water.  In Boe, Aiwo, and Nibok districts, they have their own community brackish water wells.  However, the current condition of those wells are not very convenient for the community due to firstly, the workload required to collect the water, secondly, the limit of water they can collect at any one time, and finally, the way they collect water is not very safe especially for the children.  Also, in Denig, Uaboe, they do not have any community brackish water wells, however, since the government recognizes the importance of having water wells recently drilled two wells in each district, but due to financial constraints, it faced difficulties in installing necessary pumps to use those wells.  Therefore, while acknowledging the difficulties faced by the people in Western communities, Japan decided to provide US$97,002 for upgrading the water supply system by installing solar pumps, 5,000 litre water tanks and tank stand with taps to ease community’s water woes.

 

Project for Provision of Additional Recycled 10,000 Litre Water Delivery Truck funded under Japan’s GGP Program
Nauru has a water desalination plant which supplies water for various utilities, however the limited number of trucks have been an impediment in the process of carting water promptly and efficiently to all the districts.  Although two trucks (10,000 litre recycled truck, 4,000 litre new trucks) were provided last year to ease the problem, Japan decided to provide US$65,973.00 for an additional recycled 10,000 litre water delivery truck to further supplement the carting process and thereby ensure communities have regular and reliable source of water for their daily use.

Japan’s assistance to these projects indicates its commitment to improving the living standards and welfare of people of Nauru and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development at the grassroots level.  The NPGA is an added milestone in Japan’s ongoing support and cooperation towards the development and prosperity of Nauru whilst the GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include water supply, health, basic education, vocational training and rural infrastructure. It is hoped that these assistances will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the people of Japan and the Republic of Nauru.