Here’s what has been happening at UNITAR Division for Prosperity between March and May 2024.
MAJOR NEWS
Eighth Special Purpose Grant Agreement Signed by UNITAR and the Hiroshima Prefectural Government
UNITAR and the Hiroshima Prefectural Government signed the Eighth Special Purpose Grant Agreement. The agreement renews the partnership that began in 2003 for fiscal years 2024 to 2026. The Hiroshima Prefectural Government recommitted its generous financial support for UNITAR Hiroshima Office’s training programmes, impacting lives of learners in developing countries, conflict, post-conflict and fragile states. Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki and UNITAR Executive Director Nikhil Seth expressed their mutual appreciation of the partnership for a sustainable and prosperous world.
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UNITAR Executive Director Nikhil Seth Visits Hiroshima and Tokyo
From 25 to 28 March 2024, UNITAR Executive Director Nikhil Seth visited Hiroshima and Tokyo to strengthen collaborations with UNITAR stakeholders in Japan and celebrate the newly relocated Hiroshima Office. The Executive Director joined the Peace Walk Festival in Hiroshima, the signing ceremony for the Eighth Special Grant Agreement with the Hiroshima Prefectural Government, and the opening ceremony of the new UNITAR office. He also met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, local government offices, and UNITAR supporters to promote UNITAR’s work for peace, prosperity and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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2024 Digital Finance Hackathon and Conference
On 15 and 16 February 2024, UNITAR hosted the event “Leveraging the Digital Economy for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth: Strategies to Overcome Risks and Harness Opportunities”. The event brought together nearly 270 digital technology innovators, regulators, experts, practitioners and youth to foster collaboration and inspire action to address the opportunities and challenges in the digital economy. The event featured a 1.5-day hackathon where teams prototyped solutions leveraging digital transformation and a conference on the evolving nature of the digital economy, ethical considerations and the role of digital finance in sustainable development.
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Final Session of Disaster Risk Training held in Tonga
The “2023 Cycle Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme for World Tsunami Awareness Day” culminated in a final workshop held from 5 to 11 March 2024 in Tonga. The programme, run by UNITAR with support of the Government and People of Japan, is dedicated to advancing gender-inclusive disaster preparedness. The selected top 20 learners gained first-hand insights into Tonga’s disaster risk reduction strategies that were devised in response to the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami, participated in immersive study tours and presented their plans to build resilience against disasters in their communities and islands.
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Fostering the Future of Business in Africa
On 11 April 2024, UNDP, UNITAR, and the Government of Canada celebrated the graduation of over 2,000 women entrepreneurs in Africa from the 2023 Online Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Training Programme. The programme, which equips participants with financial literacy and skills for sustainable business growth, offered webinars, mentorship and self-paced learning in digital marketing, leadership, and technology in enterprise growth. The virtual ceremony, attended by 500 graduates, featured remarks from Mattias Naab, Director of the Regional Service Center for Africa at UNDP, Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, and the Government of Canada.
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Final phase of Digital Skills Training for Women and Youth in Africa held in Kenya
On 6-7 March 2024, UNITAR’s “Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa: Enhancing Employment Opportunities and Livelihood Development in the Digital Economy” programme, supported by the Government and People of Japan, culminated in a closing event in Nairobi. The top 25 learners from 24 sub-Saharan African countries, selected from a pool of 7,000 learners, presented innovative project ideas and participated in a workshop, round-table discussion and mentoring session. The event was attended by industry experts, programme partners and distinguished guests. The training programme, featuring specialization tracks offered by Microsoft and IBM, was designed to strengthen participants’ employability and economic development in their communities.
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Great Ideas Space Entrepreneurship Training Culmination
Thirty-five learners from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and South Sudan completed the third and final phase of the Great Ideas Space entrepreneurship training programme in Tokyo and Hiroshima, Japan. The young entrepreneurs participated in workshops, mentoring sessions with experts, study tours and courtesy visits. At the end of the programme, the learners presented to fellow entrepreneurs their pitches to bring innovative local solutions to promote innovation, health security, economic development and food security.
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UNITAR-FAO Trade, Food Security and Nutrition Training
From 6 May to 1 June 2024, FAO and UNITAR are hosting an online training on “Trade, Food Security and Nutrition” for representatives of governments and authorities involved in the formulation and implementation of agricultural policies and programmes, private-sector professionals and researchers in Latin America and the Caribbean. The course is being offered in Spanish and covers topics such as impacts of openness to trade on food security, roles of trade policy measures in promoting food security, and regulatory frameworks governing trade and food security.
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UNITAR and UNITAR Association Nuclear Disarmament and Sustainable Peace Forum held in Hiroshima
On 10 February 2024, UNITAR and the UNITAR Association held the public forum “Nuclear Disarmament and Sustainable Peace” at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, with support of the Hiroshima Prefectural Government, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, Mayors for Peace, and the Chugoku Shimbun. The forum, which aimed to deepen public understanding about nuclear disarmament, was attended by 18 diplomats and government officials who were in Hiroshima for the UNITAR Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Training Programme. The esteemed panellists underscored the collaborative efforts and awareness needed to promote and advance global peace and disarmament initiatives.
Call for applications
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Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security
Motivated government officials and others from the private sector and civil society organizations from Asian and Pacific island countries interested in sea and human security are invited to apply for the “Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security” training programme. Learners will develop and refine policy briefs and individual action plans that address challenges and needs in the Indo-Pacific and enhance regional resilience. This programme is part of UNITAR’s new “Shimanami Collective: Capacity Building for Asian and Pacific Island Countries”, a series of training programmes to build resilience against disasters and to enhance sea and human security. The hybrid training programme is free of charge and financially supported by the Government and People of Japan.
Deadline for applications: 7 June 2024
Learn more about the sea and human security training and apply
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Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting food security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon
Young entrepreneurs from Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon are invited to learn the fundamentals of agribusiness and gain entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to identify alternative livelihood opportunities that have high potential for business start-ups. The “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Food Security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon” will run in three phases, from June 2024 to March 2025. This free programme is financially supported by the Government and People of Japan.
Deadline for applications: 30 June 2024
Learn more about the entrepreneurship programme and apply
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Promoting Socio-economic Stability Through Institutional Capacity and Livelihood Development in Sudan
UNITAR welcomes applications from Sudanese nationals for the “Promoting Socio-economic Stability Through Institutional Capacity and Livelihood Development in Sudan” training programme. The programme aims to empower 150 Sudanese women and men to launch new businesses that address immediate and midterm economic needs of the economy, create employment and sustainable income-generating opportunities This free programme is financially supported by the Government and People of Japan.
Deadline for applications: 9 June 2024
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Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors
UNITAR and UNITAR Association invites high school students (10th to 12th grade) in Hiroshima Prefecture to apply for the “2024 UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme: Leaders for a New Era”. The programme aims to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of nuclear disarmament and peacebuilding. Ten selected students will have the opportunity to exchange views and discuss with approximately 50 international youth from abroad, learn from experts in the field and develop their respective peacebuilding action plans. It will run from 30 June 2024 to 30 August 2024. This programme is funded by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government.
Deadline for applications: 3 June 2024
Learn more about Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors and apply
Our Impact
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Kuena James Dak: Promoting Agritech in South Sudan
South Sudanese entrepreneur Kuena James Dak created an agritech app with a vision to bridge the gap between technology and agriculture. Kuena took part in the 2023 UNITAR “Entrepreneurship and Innovation Promoting Health Security and Economic Development” programme, where he learned how to operationalize his agritech project through skills in project management, accounting and risk management.
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Ukrainian Publisher Olha Vovchok: Building Community in a Foreign Country
Olha Vovchok is an alumna of the UNITAR training programme “Bolstering Livelihoods: Digital Reskilling for Ukrainian Women Evacuees in Poland”. Olha joined the programme in hopes of helping her support the Ukrainian community in a foreign country. The programme allowed her to see different perspectives and experience new approaches. She says it “highlights that you are important and gives opportunities to move forward and reveal your hidden talents”.
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Raising Breast Cancer Awareness among Disadvantaged Women in Iraq
Dr. Mawadah Arif Hammadi is preparing a project to raise breast cancer awareness among disadvantaged women in Iraq. She joined the UNITAR Great Ideas Space 2023 “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Health Security and Economic Development in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon” programme to learn about entrepreneurship and gain the skills she needs to make her project sustainable. Mawadah is exploring how she can involve small local businesses and collaborate with NGOs to help more women access lifesaving care
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“Build Your Business for Scalability”: Tanzanian Entrepreneur Gloria Loishiye
Gloria Loishiye is a Tanzanian entrepreneur whose business provides services in landscaping, gardening and environmental conservation. She is one of over 2,000 alumni of the 2023 UNITAR “Advancing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Training Programme”. Thanks to the training, she has become more intentional in her actions and as a greater awareness of gender as she makes decisions for her business and community work.
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Filipino Youth Ambassador Helps Communities Respond to Calamities
Guiane Paul Peña is a 17-year-old student and a Youth City Councillor of Zamboanga City in the Philippines. Witnessing devastating disasters in his hometown, he became determined to help youth respond effectively to crises. Guiane joined the UNITAR Youth Ambassador Asia Pacific Programme and won the grand prize for his “Youth Emergency Task Force” idea. The initiative would train youth in emergency response, teaching them vital skills such as first aid, search and rescue and fire safety.
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From Student Leader to Global Changemaker
Agnes Chiu is a student from Hong Kong who dedicates her time to tackling poverty and supporting education for underprivileged youth. Through her initiative “Design Your Life at 25”, she aims to empower underprivileged youth around the world to build a plan for their future. She joined the UNITAR Youth Ambassador Asia Pacific Programme to scale up her initiatives and amplify her impact and is now busy refining her initiative, focusing on greater inclusivity.
PARTNERSHIPS
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UNITAR Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft Japan for Digital Upskilling in Japan and the Asia-Pacific
UNITAR signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft Japan to develop digital skilling content. The collaboration aims to support digital and AI skills acquisition in Japan and the Asia-Pacific so people can create a positive impact in their communities and organizations.
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UNITAR and International Center for Biosaline Agriculture to Collaborate for Youth and Women Employment
UNITAR and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding to promote gender mainstreaming, capacity-development and agri-partnership among youth and women. UNITAR and the Center, headquartered in Dubai, aims to support worldwide sustainable development and food security.
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UNITAR and Fundação Getulio Vargas to Expand Training in Portuguese
UNITAR and Fundação Getulio Vargas, a Brazilian higher education institution and think tank, agreed to collaborate to develop training programmes and learning events. The partnership will allow UNITAR to expand its offerings in Portuguese.
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UNITAR to Collaborate with City University of Seattle on Joint Degree or Certificate Programmes
UNITAR signed a memorandum of understanding with City University of Seattle in the US to launch joint degree or certificate programmes. The two institutes also plan to exchange educational resources such as online learning materials and platforms. Faculty members, students and researchers participating in the programmes can expect extensive collaboration through workshops, seminars and conferences in areas of common interests.
FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNITAR Hiroshima Office Relocation
UNITAR Hiroshima Office relocated to a new office space – still with a commanding view of the Peace Memorial Park. We look forward to welcoming and collaborating with friends, learners, and stakeholders in our new home and reaffirm our commitment to peace and prosperity.
Vacancy Announcement: Communications Officer
UNITAR Hiroshima Office is looking for a Communications Officer to help implement and improve our communications strategies in Japan. Native-level Japanese proficiency and working knowledge of English are required. Join our team! Deadline to apply is 31 May 2024.
This is the twelfth issue of the UNITAR Division for Prosperity quarterly newsletter. You can read all issues on our website or stay up to date by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok. You can subscribe to this newsletter here.
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About UNITAR Division for Prosperity
UNITAR Division for Prosperity, one of UNITAR’s programmatic divisions, offers world-class learning and knowledge-sharing services to shape an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world. We support change-makers from around the world, especially women and young people, to address growing inequalities.