NICCO is a non-governmental organization which was founded about 30 years ago in Kyoto.
In these past three decades, NICCO has conducted urgent disaster assistance, self-reliance support, rural environment protection and human resource development.
Currently, NICCO runs missions in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Japan.
In Japan, NICCO manages a model farm using environmental Conservation Agriculture techniques, and offers internships in human resource development.
NICCO was founded as Kampuchean Refugee Relief Program (KRRP) in December 15, 1979. KRRP's first project was a fundraising campaign for Cambodian refugees. Students and housewives responded to the call and collected donations on the streets of Kyoto.
Members of KRRP, however, keenly sensed that giving money and goods would not ensure the refugees' life security for the future, so they began a "self-reliance support".
As Cambodians in refugee camps were not permitted to have jobs or return home, they needed some sources of income to support their livelihood. Therefore, KRRP provided a "Livestock/Fowl Bank" and a "Fabric Bank" to loan piglets, mulberry seedlings for silk worms and others.
Farmers could borrow and reimburse capital up to a loan limit. KRRP enabled refugees' self-reliance as a community and improved their income by implementing these ideas alongside a committee which was organized by community inhabitants.
In 1993, KRRP changed its name into Nippon International Cooperation for Community development (NICCO). The needs of people may change depending on the period, state, region and other factors. However, the fundamental goal of NICCO is to free people from poverty and conflict and to help people realize their potential for harmony with the global environment.
NICCO therefore runs projects based on humanitarianism without discriminating by race, religion or politics.
Urgent disaster assistance
To support people, who are struggling for their survival due to conflicts and disasters.
Self-reliance support
To help people facing difficulties such as poverty, natural disasters and local conflicts, we assist the local people in creating stable income.
Protection of the rural environment
To protect global envoironment by pursuing sustainable development with all urgency.
Capacity Building
To bring up people by transfering knowledge of technology/know-how to enable them to contribute to the global community.
| Staff (Last revised: August 2nd, 2010) | ||
| Japanese staff | 15 in Japan |
13 overseas |
| Local staff | 24 overseas | |
| Fellow | 2 in Japan |
|
| Intern staff |
9 in Japan |
|
| Volunteer staff |
Active both within Japan and abroad. | |
| Members (Date of revision: June 14th, 2010) | ||
| Full-members | 7 corporations, |
161 individuals |
| Supporting members | 7 corporations, |
450 individuals |
| Number of Contributors |
442 contributors | |
| December 1979 | The Cambodia Refugee Relief Program (KRRP) is founded. |
| March 1993 | KRRP is renamed as Nippon International Cooperation for Community development (NICCO); attains Aggregate Corporation status certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
| March 1996 | Achieves legal status as a Specified Public Service Corporation and receives a tax refund. |
| August 1996 | Attains Special Consultative Status certified by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
| August 2000 | Accredited as a partner NGO of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to commence a joint project in Jordan. This project continues today. Enters Japan Platform (an assembly of the Japanese Government, Japanese companies and NGOs for emergency humanitarian aid) as an official member and part of the Board of Directors. |
| October 2001 | In a joint project with the World Bank and the Vietnamese government, implements the "Northern Mountain Poverty Reduction Program" in Vietnam, as funded by the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF). |
| November 2001 | NICCO sends an inspection team to Afghanistan after the post-Taliban collapse. Commences a project in Herat, Afghanistan, in February 2002. Also commences a project in Mashhad, Iran, a world heritage site. |
| December 2003 | Implements emergency support after the Earthquake in Bam City, Iran. |
| April 2004 | Accredited as a partner NGO of JICA to commence a second project in Jordan for environmentally friendly and water-saving organic agriculture based on permaculture in Jordan. |
| December 2004 | Implements emergency support for Sri Lanka tsunami victims. Builds temporary houses and restores approximately 150 houses. |
| October 2005 | Implements emergency aid after the Pakistan Earthquake. Distributes blankets and clothes in the Balact region. Participates in a project named "Camp in Japan" lead by Japan Platform to provide winterization materials to victims. |
| June 2006 | Implements a mobile clinic to provide emergency support after the Java earthquake. Distributes non-food items, repairs school buildings, transfers earthquake-resistant construction techniques and provides psycho-social care for the victims. |
| July 2007 | Accredited as a partner NGO of JICA to commence a project for community development based on permaculture methods in Malawi. |
| October 2007 | Accredited as a partner NGO of JICA to commences a project for community development based on the permaculture method in Palestine. |
| May 2008 | Implements emergency support after the cyclon disaster in Myanmar: a mobile clinic and distribution of non-food items such as medicine and mosquito nets and coils. |
| July 2008 | Receives an award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for establishing international friendship and goodwill. |
NICCO Kyoto Head Office |
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| NICCO Representative Office in Tokyo 4F No.2, Tsuboya Bld., 4-7-19, Kudan-minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0074 TEL：03-3221-5721 / FAX：03-5213-4875 |
Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCO)
101 Nishi-Rokkaku-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, Japan 604-8217
TEL：075-241-0681 / FAX：075-241-0682
