The Japanese government has extended an additional US$1.3m (about Rwf945.7m) for the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) in Mayange Sector, Bugesera District.

This funding, channelled through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), is an expansion of Japan’s support to the MVP in Rwanda following a grant extended to the same project in April and December, 2014, of approximately US $2.5m.

The financing deal was signed last week between the Government of Japan and the United Nations.

In addition to Rwanda, the Government of Japan has extended grant assistance to Kenya and Nigeria under the MVP.

‘‘This support is in line with Japan’s assistance towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Rwanda. Specifically, the grant will be used for continued improvement of Water and Sanitation, Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Business Development, facilitate the transfer of interventions to local ownership, and to perform monitoring and evaluation work,’’ reads a statement from the Japanese embassy in Kigali.

"Furthermore, this assistance aims at putting the communities on a sustainable path to continued development and the achievements realised and lessons learned in Mayange will be extended into wider areas in Rwanda.”

The MVP was launched in 2005/06 and its first phase ended in 2010. Presently, the second phase of the MVP (2011 to Mid-2016) is being carried out in ten African countries, including Rwanda, aiming at achieving all the MDGs by 2015.

The project is implemented in keeping with the Japanese commitments made at the Fifth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD V) held in Yokohama, Japan, in June, 2013, the embassy said.

The statement said the Government of Japan continues to demonstrate its international leadership by supporting sub-Saharan African governments in the progress being made toward the MDGs, human security, and the achievement of balanced and sustainable development of the continent as a whole.

"It is the hope of the Government and the people of Japan that this grant assistance will be utilised efficiently and effectively.”

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