Background of SCEF
In response to growing local demand for development cooperation in the region, The Sasakawa Central Europe Fund (SCEF) was established in 1990 with a 4-billion yen endowment from the Nippon Foundation. As one of the special region-specific Funds set up and operating within The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), the SCEF conducts both grant-making and self-implemented projects. The programme focused on the countries of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.
In planning and implementing the SCEF’s assistance activities, we worked from our unique position as a private, nonprofit Fund to develop mutual understanding in order to continue to build new and enduring relationships between Japan and the states of Central Europe. We seeked to explore and develop new, innovative forms of cooperation. At the same time, we supported and collaborated in region-directed activities initiated by other international foundations in the U.S. and Europe. In all of these pursuits, we conducted our activities in a manner that recognises and respects the particular characteristics and needs of each of the region’s countries.
In sum, two primary objectives underscored the SCEF programme:
- To promote mutual understanding between Japan and the Countries of Central Europe;
- To contribute to the progressive development of Central European societies by supporting activities aimed at enhancing intra-regional and international cooperation across a wide range of fields.
However, in May 2004, all four countries successfully acceded to the European Union, and have since achieved political stability through construction of democratic systems and economic stability through functioning market economies. In light of these developments, the Sasakawa Central Europe Fund considers its founding objectives to have been met.
Accordingly, the Fund took the decision to cease its operations as of March 2009. To all those who so kindly gave their support and cooperation to the various activities conducted through the Sasakawa Central Europe Fund, we would like to express our profound gratitude and sincere thanks.
