The Government of Japan has allocated ₲1.777 billion (approximately US$300,000) for three new community projects in Paraguay. Japan funds the amount through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme and will support improvements to water access, educational facilities, and road infrastructure in the Cordillera and Central departments.
Japan’s Ambassador to Paraguay, Katsumi Itagaki, and representatives of the beneficiary institutions signed the grant agreements for the projects. The agreements build on a long-standing partnership between Japan and Paraguay, which has included support for community development since 1989.
Improving water access in Caacupé
In Caacupé, Cordillera Department, the Azcurra Sanitation Board will use the grant to improve access to drinking water for the local community. The project will finance the installation of a 100,000-litre water tank and a 10-horsepower pump, along with electrical connections, piping, a storage facility, and a perimeter wall to protect the new infrastructure.
Once completed, the system will provide around 4,000 people with a continuous 24-hour supply of safe drinking water.
New facilities for a school in J. Augusto Saldívar
In the Central Department, the Dr. Carlos Pastore Educational Center in J. Augusto Saldívar will receive funding to expand its facilities as student numbers grow.
The project will provide a new classroom and laboratory, both fully furnished for educational use. It will also upgrade the school’s water system with a 50,000-litre tank, a pump, and the necessary electrical connections. The improvements will strengthen the water supply for the school’s 580 students and 60 teachers.
Japan funds better accessibility in Caraguatay
The third project will be carried out in Caraguatay, Cordillera, by the Nueva Esperanza Caraguatay Association of Friends of Persons with Disabilities.
The association will use the funding to improve local infrastructure by installing a stormwater drainage system and paving roads with cobblestones. The improvements are intended to reduce flooding during heavy rainfall. They will also make travel safer and more reliable for vehicles and pedestrians. The project will improve access to schools, homes, and basic services for approximately 10,100 residents, with particular benefits for people with mobility challenges.
A history of cooperation
The Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects is part of Japan’s official development assistance programme. It provides funding directly to non-profit organisations and local authorities for projects that address basic community needs.
Since the GGP was introduced in Paraguay in 1989, 440 projects have been implemented across the country. Most have focused on education, health, and road infrastructure, with total funding reaching approximately US$28.593 million. Together, the three new projects continue a partnership that has supported community development in Paraguay for more than three decades.
