Japan fund for poverty reduction: annual report

The 2011 Annual Report of the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) is the 11th such report and covers the period 1 January?31 December 2011. The report presents the background and rationale, implementation progress, and achievements of the JFPR. The JFPR was established in May 2000 and provides direct grant assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) while fostering long-term social and economic development. The grants target poverty reduction initiatives with the direct participation of nongovernment organizations (NGOs), community groups, and civil society. Project Grants As in previous years, the JFPR grant policy guidelines for 2011 stressed that JFPR grants should complement ADB-financed operations and programs compatible with the development objectives of the country support strategy or program, national poverty reduction strategy or paper, poverty partnership agreement, or poverty reduction elements of the sector strategies. Technical Assistance The emphasis of the 2011 technical assistance (TA) program was on capacity development, and policy and advisory TA, as well as project preparatory TA (PPTA) projects. Commitments and Financial Status By 31 December 2011, the JFPR had committed a total of $370.5 million for 145 grants and $89.8 million for 77 TA projects. Of these amounts, $364.0 million for 142 grants and $54.8 million for 59 TA projects were outstanding; i.e., letters of agreement had been signed and had become effective. By the end of 2011, taking into account the JFPR?s income from investments and interest earned from bank accounts, about $152.4 million was available for further commitments.