The signing of an agreement to extend the implementation of a project aimed at supporting early childhood development took place at the Japanese Embassy in Mongolia. The document was signed by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan, Masaru Igawahara, and the director of the Save the Children Mongolia office, Mitsuaki Toyoda. Information about this event was published by MiddleAsianNews.
The main goal of this project is to enhance the efficiency, coordination, and responsiveness of local government institutions providing assistance to young children with developmental delays and disabilities.
The project is being implemented under the "Grant Support for Japanese NGOs" program.
As part of the program for the 2024 fiscal year, Save the Children Japan will continue its work, focusing efforts on inclusive, accessible, and comprehensive services for young children. In the past year, steps have been taken in the capital of Mongolia and in the Selenge and Bayankhongor aimags to improve early detection of developmental disorders, enhance the early intervention system, and develop necessary resources.
In the second year of the project, which has now been approved, support will be provided to local family health centers, subcommittees, and kindergartens offering government services. The ambassador also noted that last year he visited target institutions in the Bayanzürkh district, where he became acquainted with the new facilities and equipment created under this project. The effective use of these resources is showing positive results.
Now, the institutions participating in the project are striving to establish cooperation with new partners, which will allow for the exchange of experiences and knowledge. The ambassador expressed confidence that the project will continue to develop and expand.
“Our cooperation is entering its final stage. Through our joint efforts, we have managed to improve the methods of assessing child development, strengthen interaction between the health, social protection, and education sectors, and create conditions for more inclusive and accessible services. We plan to continue expanding partnerships and sharing experiences to enhance the potential for achieving significant results. Additionally, we will focus on maintaining and implementing best practices developed in collaboration with government partners at both the political and informational levels. This will ensure quality support for children, especially those with limitations and developmental delays, at the critically important stage of early childhood,” emphasized the office director Mitsuaki Toyoda.
Mongolia views this cooperation with Japan as key to creating a sustainable, fair, and inclusive system.
The project will operate until March 29, 2027, with total funding of $664,555.
The Grant Support for Japanese NGOs program provides financial assistance for socio-economic initiatives implemented by Japanese non-governmental organizations in developing countries.
