Total Amount Granted: $328,709
Emergency Relief Program Grant
Project Dates: March 11, 2011 to March 10, 2012
Amount: $328,709
Project Status: Ongoing
Based in Tokyo, the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) has played a central, specialized role in the relief and recovery activities of Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) since the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in March 2011. JANIC supports over 50 Japanese NGOs representing 200 sites in areas most severely affected by the disaster: Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima Prefectures. JANIC provides members with a platform to communicate and collaborate. JANIC’s efforts in Japan have helped to distribute resources, avoid duplication of efforts, and gather and share key data. JANIC aims to grow grassroots organizations that can take over responsibility for work currently being done by NNGOs. According to Carl Williams, Direct Relief’s Japan Relief and Recovery Coordinator, “The great quality of work in the affected areas and the degree of efforts has clearly been a result of JANIC coordination functions of positive coverage and resource control.”
JANIC’s relief and recovery activities are detailed below:
- Meeting Coordination: Member NGOs are provided a forum in which to regularly meet one another, plan coordinated activities, and share information about best practices. The forum allows organizations to address demands and challenges from the field and operation centers. An average of 20 organizations are represented at each information-sharing meeting.
- Information Collection and Provision: Relevant information and updates of members’ activities are shared via JANIC’s website and mailings. Information is exchanged among key actors in the disaster relief effort, such as the Japan Platform. Over 100 organizations and companies participate in the mailing list. Emiko Fujioka, Coordinator for JANIC, reported, "Small-scale NGOs fo not have good access to information and resources. We will put more emphasis on giving information to those small NGOs."
- Pooled Relief Fund: JANIC has established an account to collect "all-in-one" donations related to the earthquake and tsunami. Over 1,500 donors have contirbuted over $1 million, distributed equally among JANIC's member NGOs.
- Donation Matching: Donors offering funds and aid supplies are matched with JANIC members who need those funds and supplies. Matched support has included dishes, cell phones, computers, maps, staff, and funding.
Donors offering funds and aid supplies are matched with JANIC members who need those funds and supplies. Matched support has included dishes, cell phones, computers, maps, staff, and funding. - Nonprofit Support: Member NGOs benefit from the consolidation of policy recommendations, coordination of external supporters, and mutual promotion.
- Policy Advocation: NGOs in the field desire that thier acquired experiences and lessons are reflected in government policies. In order to support this goal, JANIC issues appeals and recommendations to the government, and participates in the Japan Civil Network (JCN) as one of it steering committee members.
Read more about JANIC