More Information-Grant Aid for Cultural Grass-roots Projects
Eligible Countries: As a general principle, developing countries, which are eligible to receive GCGP (89 eligible countries as of September 2010). In the Caribbean Region, Guyana, Suriname, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada are eligible for this project*.
*At this moment, the Government of Japan has an agreement of its implemetation with the Government of Suriname. In the case that the organizations in the country where the Governemnt of Japan does not have an agreement (all aforementioned countries except Suriname), exchanging Notes between both countries should be conducted in advance.
Eligible Recipients: Any type of non-profit organization is eligible to be a GCGP recipient. The requirement is that it be a non-profit organization implementing projects for the promotion of culture or higher education (including sports) at the grass-roots level in eligible countries (individuals and profit-making companies are not eligible).
The following are examples of potential recipients: NGOs that are active in the local region (regardless of their nationalities), local authorities, and non-profit organizaitons such as universities. In particular cases, governmental institutions may also be eligible for assistance.
Project Areas:
(a) As long as a development project for the promotion of culture and higher education in an eligible country is geared to grass-roots assistance, it is eligible for financing under the GCGP. The following types of projects are being implemented.
Some examples (not an exhaustive list) of eligible projects are:
Japanese language education equipment (LL equipment, etc.) for the Japanese language departments at universities
Sound and lighting equipment for theaters
Sports equipment for sports facilities and organizations (including martial arts)
Audio-visual equipment for art galleries and museums
(b) Priority areas and detailed conditions shall be determined by the Japanese embassy or consulate in each eligible country according to the specific needs for cultural or higher education areas.
Available Funds: GCGP funds are provided to the recipient organization after an examination and evaluation of each application by the Japanese Government on an annual basis.
The grant amount per project is generally under 10 million yen. Prospective applicants should note that the following budget items cannot be financed: consumables, operating and maintenance costs of facilities and equipment, and the administrative costs of the recipient organization.
How to Apply: If your organization satisfies the conditions described above and you want to receive GACGP funds in order to implement a project for the promotion of culture or higher education in an eligible country, you should submit an application form to the Japanese embassy or consulate in said eligible country. The application form must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of the budget for the project, a map showing the project site, a feasibility study for the project, estimates for the goods and services that will be purchased by the grant (from three different suppliers), document introducing the applying organization (such as brochures) a copy of its regulations, and the annual budget of your organization.
Embassy of Japan in Trinidad and Tobago 