(Provisional Translation)

Japan's Efforts Through UNESCO
Relating to Assistance for the Reconstruction of Iraq

July 2003

1. Education Sector

(1) On April 23, the Government of Japan announced cooperation of up to $1 million through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Capacity-building of Human Resources established in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

(2) Rapid Needs Assessment in the Education Sector of Iraq
Responding to the request from the United Nations, and in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund, UNESCO is conducting in Iraq a detailed needs assessment in the education sector for about three months from July. $500,000 will be used from the above-mentioned trust funds for this purpose. Specifically, experts from various countries will train Iraqi administrative officials and experts who are involved in the educational field and, in cooperation with these officials and experts, will conduct a survey of educational needs, including educational plans and management, as well as collecting and analyzing data. Special adviser to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Toku Hirasawa will participate in this Needs Assessment.

(3) Based on the results of this assessment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will consider one or more projects using the remaining $500,000 in the trust funds.

2. Culture Sector

(1) On April 23, the Government of Japan announced a contribution of $1 million to the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage established in the UNESCO.

(2) In order to survey the current state of cultural heritage in Iraq, UNESCO dispatched a first mission there from May 17 to 20 and a second mission from June 28 to July 5. (From Japan, Director Ken Matsumoto of the Institute for Cultural Studies of Ancient Iraq of Kokushikan University participated in these two missions, and Director Shigeo Aoki of the Department of Restoration Techniques of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo also participated in the second mission.) Based on the results of these surveys, the Government of Japan will consider the specific cooperation using the $1 million already contributed to the trust funds. A task force consisting of Japanese experts will be set up for this purpose.