UNITAR Hiroshima Winter Update 2016
Contents
Greetings from UNITAR Hiroshima Office Head Mihoko Kumamoto
It is a great pleasure to release the winter update about the UNITAR Hiroshima Office. The second half of 2016 has been eventful for both Hiroshima and the UNITAR Hiroshima Office. For Hiroshima, one of the most memorable events was the Central League Championship of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Hiroshima’s local baseball team, which happened for the first time in 25 years. The UNITAR Hiroshima Office has also been busy and active, implementing a number of learning events inside and outside Japan, targeted at future leaders from Japan, South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and 14 Pacific Island countries. We would like to thank you for all the support and friendship extended to us in 2016. We look forward to seeing you again in 2017.
60 Years of Japan in the United Nations
Japan joined the United Nations on 18 December, 60 years ago.
Reflecting on this anniversary, the UNITAR Hiroshima Office collected photos of our colleagues, who enjoy and are proud of their work. We all feel that one of the most interesting aspects of working for the UN is being able to work alongside colleagues, as well as engage with participants, from such a variety of backgrounds. UNITAR hopes to continue spreading the message of peace from Hiroshima to the rest of the world through our programmes.
Training Programmes
South Sudan Fellowship Programme – Workshop I in Sharjah, UAE
Participants at Workshop I, 2016
Workshop I of the UNITAR South Sudan Fellowship Programme 2016 Cycle was successfully held in Sharjah, UAE, from 18 to 20 October. The Workshop was originally scheduled for this past summer, but due to an outbreak of violence in Juba it was cancelled at the last minute. Everyone at UNITAR was thankful all the participants arrived in Sharjah safely. The Workshop introduced the concept of organizational needs assessments to the Fellows’ working environment in South Sudan, and Fellows improved their understanding of the key processes of organizational needs assessments through data collection, analysis, and reporting. H.E. Kiya Masahiko, Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan, said the Programme is particularly relevant to South Sudan’s ongoing peacebuilding. “Upon reflecting on failures and successes of numerous enterprises in South Sudan, we realize the importance of analysis of willing stakeholders, affordable resources, and feasible methods of engagement,” continued Ambassador Kiya. “The 25 Fellows and their 20 predecessors from 2015 Cycle are a beacon of hope of South Sudan who bring their learning to work and to deliver improved public service to citizens in South Sudan by unlocking their full potential.” Workshop II will take place in Hiroshima in February 2017. Read more >>
Key partners: The Government of Japan, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, United Nations Development Programme
Anti-Corruption Training Programme for North Africa
Participants at Workshop I, 2016
Workshop I of the UNITAR Anti-Corruption Training Programme for North Africa was held from 24 to 28 October in Casablanca, Morocco. The workshop brought together 25 participants, including 7 from Algeria, 8 from Morocco and 10 from Tunisia, with each country sending representatives from its government organizations and NGOs that engage in anti-corruption work. The training focused on organizational transparency, education, and media issues in relation to anti-corruption, with the overall objective of strengthening the skills of a regional network of professionals engaged in the fight against corruption. Read more >>
The North Africa Programme’s Workshop II took place in Hiroshima and Tokyo between 30 January and 3 February 2017, and focused on Training of Trainers, providing the participants with the tools and knowledge to design and develop training interventions tailored to their own specific context. Read more >>
Key partners: The Government of Japan, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, United Nations Development Programme.
Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme – Japan
Participants in the DRR Training, 2016
The UNITAR Hiroshima Office’s new programme, entitled UNITAR Hiroshima Women's Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2016, took place in Japan from 30 October to 8 November. Women involved in DRR from 14 Pacific States were invited to participate in the 10-day training, which took place in Sendai, Wakayama, and Tokyo. UNITAR invited two participants from each state: one from the government and one from civil society. One of the highlights of the programme were the study tours, which did an excellent job connecting the content of the training with practical examples in Japan. Additionally, on November 7 at United Nations University, UNITAR hosted a Public Session, titled “Women and Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction: Comparing Perspectives Between Japan and the Pacific States,” in connection with the main DRR training. Read more >>
Key partners: The Government of Japan, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hirokawa-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, Ishinomaki City, Sendai City, and others
Iraq Fellowship Programme – Workshop I in Amman, Jordan
Participants at Orientation Session (left) and Workshop I, 2016 (right)
The inaugural cycle of the UNITAR Iraq Fellowship Programme: Entrepreneurship and Leadership Youth Training officially began with Workshop I in Amman, Jordan, from 28 November to 2 December. The programme is a six-month specialized capacity-building training for Iraqi professionals from various public sector, private sector, academic institutions, and civil society organizations; the training focuses on project development and implementation. Prior to the Workshop, an orientation session was held in Bagdad, Iraq, on 11 November, to provide Fellows with an overview of the programme and gather their feedback through a needs assessment questionnaire. Workshop I aimed to give Fellows an in-depth knowledge of organizational needs assessments and how to apply them to the Fellows’ working environment in Iraq. UNITAR is sure the Fellows, who come from various sectors of Iraqi society, will play a vital role in promoting entrepreneurship, and by extension reconstruction and development, in Iraq. Workshop II is scheduled to be held in Hiroshima in March 2017. Read more >>
Key partners: The Government of Japan, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, United Nations Development Programme
Afghanistan Fellowship Programme – Workshop I & II in Kabul, Afghanistan
Participants at Workshop I, 2016
The 13th annual cycle of the UNITAR Afghanistan Fellowship Programme - Inspiring Transformation began with Workshop I, held from 27 November to 1 December in Kabul, Afghanistan. During the Workshop, 29 Fellows from a range of government entities and NGOs were introduced to concepts of good governance and the processes necessary to undertake an organizational needs assessments, so as to be able to indigenously identify need. The Workshop had a great atmosphere from the very beginning, with the Fellows expressing deep interest in the characteristics of good governance and examples of how it is being implemented in the Afghan context. Read more >>
Workshop II of the Fellowship was held in Kabul between 22 and 26 January, with the Fellows undergoing intensive training on leadership, project proposal development, and good governance. The Fellows also chose their group projects, which they will continue to focus on until Workshop III, which will be held in Hiroshima, Japan from 17 April 2017. Read more >>
Key partners: The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City
Community Outreach
TICAD VI Side Event
Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, the head of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office with panelists (left); questions from the floor (right)
UNITAR’s TICAD VI Side Event was successfully held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 27 August. Exploring “Capacity Development for African Youth: Lessons Learnt and Future Prospects” and featuring speakers from UN Women, Kenyatta University, and PACEMaker International, the event was well attended and included a lively and interactive panel discussion that traversed issues pertinent to Africa’s youth, ranging from discussions on incentives for vocational education, to support for marginalized populations, to the role that technology can play in development and entrepreneurship. Read more >>
Carp Peace Day
Ms. Kumamoto, UNITAR Youth Ambassadors, and JICA volunteers with Carp mascot Slyly (left); UNITAR staff, family, and volunteers (right)
September 21 is the International Day of Peace. On Saturday, September 17, UNITAR, in collaboration with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and JICA, hosted a Peace Day event at the Carp game.
The on-field bases turned UN blue, and the UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors made a bouquet presentation at the beginning of the game. UNITAR ran a face-painting booth, a soccer game for kids, a quiz about the UNITAR staff, and a stamp rally where participants could receive hand-crafted UNITAR Peace Day badges. There were also picture and video displays designed to introduce people to UNITAR and our activities. The most exciting event was when UNITAR, JICA, and our volunteers performed the CC Dance on the field. Many people visited our booths, and we are happy to say the event went well. Thank you to everyone who stopped by! Read more >>
UNITAR Café
Participants tour the UNITAR office (left); participants and staff pose for a photo (right)
On Thursday, September 22, UNITAR Hiroshima staff hosted the first UNITAR Café in our office. The purpose of the Café was to introduce UNITAR and its activities to high school students in the Hiroshima area, as well as give them tips on pursuing a career in international relations. While the students sampled drinks and pastries, UNITAR staff members explained their educational and professional backgrounds and introduced UNITAR's various activities. Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Head of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, dropped in to give the students advice and explain how she got to her current position. Other activities included a UN-themed quiz game, a short tour of the office, and a relaxed period for students to ask UNITAR Hiroshima staff members questions after the end of the official presentation. Thank you to everyone who participated, we all had a great time!
Youth Ambassador Programme – Tokyo Study Tour
Youth Ambassadors outside UNU (left); Youth Ambassadors with the Ambassador of Papua New Guinea (right)
On 20 to 21 September, the UNITAR Youth Ambassadors traveled to Tokyo with UNITAR Hiroshima Office Head Mihoko Kumamoto to participate in a study tour. The group visited the United Nations Information Center, United Nations University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Embassy of Papua New Guinea, and the Embassy of India. The Youth Ambassadors received an explanation of Japanese diplomacy and global education at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, respectively; they were also able to speak directly with the ambassadors. The study tour was an excellent opportunity for the two Youth Ambassadors to learn about the various viewpoints and opinions of people around the world.
Green Legacy Hiroshima – Geneva Tree Planting
Ambassador Ihara gives his remarks at the planting ceremony (left); Mr. Horiguchi presents Secretary General Ban with a copy of "Paper Crane Journey" (right)
A planting ceremony was held on 3 October at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, for a ginkgo sapling from one of Hiroshima’s atomic-bombed trees. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Mayors for Peace Representative and Ypres Mayor Jan Durnez, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva Junichi Ihara, and UNITAR Executive Director Nihkil Seth conducted the planting ceremony and offered their remarks. Secretary General Ban symbolically planted the ginkgo sapling in the Palais garden. Chikara Horiguchi, Green Legacy Hiroshima’s tree doctor, was also in attendance. Read more >>
Looking Ahead
The past few months have been incredibly busy for the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, and we are not planning on slowing down in 2017. The first four months of the new year will see workshops for the Afghanistan Fellowship Programme, the Anti-Corruption Training Programme in North Africa, the Iraq Fellowship Programme, the South Sudan Fellowship Programme, and the Afghanistan Women’s Soccer Programme. UNITAR’s World Heritage and Disarmament programmes will hold trainings later in the year. As the majority of these workshops will take place in Hiroshima, the UNITAR Hiroshima Office looks forward to introducing participants to our inspiring city and being inspired by our participants in turn.