Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects: Grant Contract Signing Ceremony for the Expansion of Bursar Primary School

Representatives of PASOS presented on the project for Expansion of Bursar Primary School.

Title	Grant Contract Signing Ceremony for the Expansion of Bursar Primary School
Date	11^th March, 2016
Location	AMISOM VIP Conference Room, Mogadishu International Airport (MIA)
Project title	The Project for the Expansion of Bursar Primary School
Amount	US$ 97,538
Attendance	H.E. Mr. Tatsushi Terada - Ambassador of Japan to Somalia H.E. Mr. Abdurahman Yusuf Ali Aynte, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation H.E. Ms. Hawa Hassan Mohamed, Minister of Health and Human Services H.E. Mr. Salah Sheikh Osman, Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing H.E. Mr. Khalid Omar Ali, State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion Mr. Abdi Dirshe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Somalia Media representatives
Main activity	On 11^th March 2016, a Grant Contract Signing Ceremony for a GGP project “The Project for the Expansion of Bursar Primary School” was held in AMISOM VIP Conference Room, Mogadishu International Airport, Somalia. The ceremony was attended by officials from the Embassy of Japan in Kenya led by H.E. Tatsushi Terada, Ambassador of Japan to Somalia and four Ministers from the Federal Government of Somalia. The Grant Contract was signed by Ambassador Terada and Mr. Omar Osman Jama, Deputy Director of the grantee organization, Peace Action Society Organization for Somalia (PASOS). The very first GGP grant for Somalia will be used for the construction of 8 classrooms, 10 toilets, and procurement of necessary furniture, such as desks and chairs, to improve the educational environment for the students and water tanks to increase access to clean water in Bursar Primary School in El Wak district, Gedo region. The project is expected to improve the learning environment for the students and secure access to safe water. The project will start with creating awareness of the project and involve the community including students’ parents and local authorities through consultation meetings in which they discuss designing and construction of classrooms and public toilets. PASOS will also train the community on water and sanitation project to transform people’s mindset about sanitation. The numbers of beneficiaries are expected to be 480 students and community members in El Wak district. During the ceremony, Ambassador Terada congratulated PASOS on being selected as the first grantee for GGP in Somalia and encouraged the organization to ensure that the new classrooms attract more students and contribute to providing quality education in the district. Mentioning that the Government of Japan decided to extend USD 38.525 million to the United Nations and other international organizations for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Somalia through this year’s supplementary budget, Ambassador Terada wished that all the projects will bring positive changes to Somalia and give Somali fellow citizens the light of hope. 　 H.E. Mr. Abdirahman Aynte, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation welcomed the first bilateral assistance from the Government of Japan to Somalia, which was the promise made by H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan to H.E. Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia when they met on March 2014 in Japan. Three other Ministers made their remarks, welcoming the first bilateral assistance and promising their assistance to PASOS. After the ceremony, Ambassador Terada had bilateral talks with all Ministers and some other high government officials to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries and explore areas of cooperation.

Photographs

Representatives of Somali press gathered, and the signing ceremony was widely broadcasted in Somalia.

H.E. Mr. Abdirahman Yusuf Ali, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation made his remark.

H.E. Ms. Hawa Hassan Mohamed, Minister of Health and Human Services, made her remark.

H.E. Mr.Khalid Omar Ali, State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion, made his remark.

H.E. Mr. Salah Sheikh Osman, Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing made his remark.

A commemorative photo of Ambassador and PASOS after the ceremony.