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On 11 June in Japanese Embassy in Kabul an agreement between the Government of Japan and Sanayee Development Organization (SDO) on funding of two development projects was signed. These projects will be implemented in Ghor province where Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) is operating. At the signing ceremony deputy Head of Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan Tomas Urbonas stressed the importance of development projects in the provinces which are rather safe and where people are willing to change their lives peacefully.

“It is important that the provinces that do not tolerate the acts of radical forces would be the first to benefit. This would be a good example for other provinces. Security and stability should be enhanced first of all by showing the advantages of peaceful life to the people of such provinces as Ghor so that they do not resort to violence to attract international community’s attention to their problems,” T. Urbonas said.

Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan and Lithuanian-led PRT are the first of 25 PRT leading nations to mediate for the SDO in submitting two applications to recently established Japanese Fund. This Japanese initiative aims at strengthening relations between Japan and NATO contributing to NATO and partner states’ reconstruction mission in Afghanistan. Japanese Fund was established to finance education, healthcare and vocational training projects. Each PRT can mediate in application for these projects.

The total value of SDO projects “Vocational training in Ghor Province” and “Improving female literacy in Ghor province” is almost 440 thousand litas (about € 127 thousand). It is hoped that these projects would increase employment possibilities and would contribute to promotion of gender equality in Ghor province.

This year Lithuanian Government allocated 4 million litas (about € 1,6 million)  for development cooperation projects in Ghor province. Lithuania also seeks to attract other donors to the province. Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan was the first to submit applications for the European Commission Fund. If the project is confirmed its total value will be almost 2 million litas (about € 0,8 million).