UNITAR Afghanistan Fellowship Programme 2015 Successfully Concludes

UNITAR AFP Workshop IV 20 November 2015, Hiroshima, Japan – Workshop IV of the UNITAR Afghanistan Fellowship Programme finished today in Hiroshima, marking the conclusion of the 2015 Fellowship Cycle. Held between 16 and 20 November, the workshop was the culmination of the seven-month-long Fellowship Programme which aims at capacity building and enhancing the leadership, management and professional skills of a core group of senior government officials, academics and practitioners from Afghanistan. The 2015 cycle saw 56 trainees complete the programme, including 41 Fellows, 10 Coaches and 5 Afghan Resource Persons, bringing the total number of graduates of the Fellowship since 2003 to 587.

UNITAR Afghanistan Fellowship Programme 2015 Successfully Concludes Workshop IV focused on project implementation and change management through a range of interactive sessions, presentations, team exercises and after-action reviews. Learning from Hiroshima's lessons in post-conflict reconstruction, the Fellows undertook a study tour to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where Deputy Director Masuda explained the history of the city over the last seventy years. The Fellows were deeply moved by the message of peace from A-Bomb survivor, Ms. Keiko Ogura, during her presentation. Building on the theme of reconstruction, a joint training session was held with Hiroshima University trainees from Bangsamoro, focusing on career challenges and opportunities that youth and women face in countries emerging from conflict.

The Fellows presented their completed team project proposals which addressed contemporary issues in Afghanistan, ranging from establishing an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, a mentoring programme for engineer graduates, study support for rural children, female empowerment in organizations, to establishing emergency wards in hospitals in Kabul. Reflecting the effectiveness and success of the programme, several of these proposals have already been approved and received funding for implementation from organizations in Afghanistan.

UNITAR Afghanistan Fellowship Programme 2015 Successfully Concludes The workshop was led by key Resource Persons – Dr. Michael Fors, General Manager at Microsoft Corporation and Shona Welsh, Executive Director, Continuing Education and Corporate Workforce Development. Dr. Osman Osmani, Director General of the Afghanistan Civil Service Institute also presented a session on change in Afghanistan.

Workshop IV allows the Fellows to experience Hiroshima's reconstruction and peace story first hand. UNITAR Hiroshima is grateful for the support of the Hiroshima City and Hiroshima Prefecture Governments for UNITAR's programmes. The Hiroshima Prefecture hosted a Reception on the first night to welcome the Fellows, which was opened by Mr. Masahiro Takenaka, Chief of the Hiroshima Prefecture Regional Policy Bureau. The Fellows also made courtesy calls to Mr. Hidehiko Yuzaki, Govenor of Hiroshima Prefecture, and to Mr. Tetsuo Muroto, Deputy Mayor of Hiroshima City.

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