unitar hiroshima office executive summary 2011 · republic of afghanistan to the united nations and...

UNITAR HIROSHIMA OFFICE Executive Summary 2011

13 December 2011

UNITAR HIROSHIMA OFFICE 2011

SYNOPSIS

Following on from the success of the previous year, 2011 proved to be full of both challenges and opportunities. The impact and the output of the Office continued to improve as UNITAR’s presence in the region was strengthened. However, even while the Office maintained its long-term donor base in Japan, its financial growth was hindered by a greater geo-strategic realignment of donor states supporting projects in Afghanistan and Iraq. Internationally, the new Transparency and Anti-Corruption Study Tour to Singapore, saw the Hiroshima Office revisit the city state and build upon its already deep relationship with the Singapore International Foundation. The Office’s flagship Fellowship for Afghanistan Programme also continued the positive trajectory it developed in 2010, with 55 participants once again taking part in the seven-month-long capacity building programme for civil servants. Furthermore the eighth annual cycles of both the Series on Sea and Human Security and the Series on the Management and Conservation of World Heritage Sites were successfully implemented. In addition, the Office has concluded the design of the new UNITAR Fellowship for Iraq programme and continues to engage with the Iraqi government in regards to its implementation in 2012. Domestically, specific training was offered on the request of several Embassies in Tokyo, utilising UNITAR’s materials that were delivered to diplomats in face-to-face workshops. The inaugural Tokyo session, entitled Cross-Cultural Negotiation, was attended by several Ambassadors and served as a useful proof-of-concept that has seen UNITAR be requested to replicate the training for at least three iterations in 2012. In addition to the Office’s Public Sessions held at the UNITAR facilities in Hiroshima, 2011 saw the implementation of the Hiroshima Lectures, whereupon UNITAR staff deliver presentations and speeches to the local community and domestic groups. A total of eight such presentations were made this year, indicating a keen interest in such groups to engage with the Institute and further understand its role and mandate. The strong relationship with the Hiroshima Prefectural Government continued in 2011 and was underscored by the cooperation and collaboration that brought to fruition the new Hiroshima for Global Peace Plan. This initiative was developed by the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, the Honourable Hidehiko Yuzaki. Another major milestone in the partnership between the Prefecture and the Office, was the visit of the Governor to New York to meet the United Nations Secretary-General in November. In regards to the total number of beneficiaries, the Office went from 917 in 2010 to 1080 in 2011, despite the tragic events of the March 11 Earthquake and Tsunami in Eastern Japan. This disaster served to restrict the ability of a number of potential participants and resource persons to gain institutional permission to travel to Japan. The impact of this crisis – barring further catastrophic events at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant is anticipated to lessen in the early months of 2012 as institution-level restrictions on travel are revised.


SECTION 1.1 2011 PUBLIC SESSIONS AND HIROSHIMA LECTURES

Public Session I MDGs – I: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty

Public Session II MDGs – I: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty

Public Session III MDGs – Iii: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Public Session IV MDGs – Ii: Achieve Universal Primary Education

Public Session V Dialogues on Peace: Human Rights and Peace – The Case of Humanitarian Intervention

Public Session VI MDGs – V: Improve Maternal Health

Public Session VII World Heritage Sites: Who are the Stakeholders?

Public Session VIII MDGs – Viii: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Hiroshima Lecture I Global Citizenship and the Responsibility to Protect

Hiroshima Lecture II Peace from Disasters: Indigenous Initiatives across Communities, Countries and Continents

Hiroshima Lecture III Thinking on the Meaning of the City of Hiroshima

Hiroshima Lecture IV International Assistance Towards Iraqi Post-Conflict Reconstruction


PUBLIC SESSIONS

NO.: I TITLE: MDGs – I: ERADICATE EXTREME HUNGER AND POVERTY DATE: MONDAY 31 JANUARY ATTENDEES: 46


PUBLIC SESSIONS

NO.: II TITLE: MDGs – III: PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN DATE: TUESDAY 8 MARCH ATTENDEES: 19


PUBLIC SESSIONS

NO.: III TITLE: MDGs – II: ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION DATE: WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL ATTENDEES: 22


PUBLIC SESSIONS

NO.: IV TITLE: DIALOGUES ON PEACE: HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE – THE CASE OF HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION DATE: FRIDAY 13 MAY ATTENDEES: 26


PUBLIC SESSIONS

NO.: V TITLE: MDGs – V: IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH DATE: MONDAY 30 MAY ATTENDEES: 26


PUBLIC SESSIONS

NO.: VI TITLE: WORLD HERITAGE SITES: WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS? DATE: WEDNESDAY 6 JULY ATTENDEES: 56


PUBLIC SESSIONS

NO.: VII TITLE: MDGs – VIII: DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT DATE: THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER ATTENDEES: 20


HIROSHIMA LECTURES

NO.: I TITLE: GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT DATE: THURSDAY 9 AUGUST ATTENDEES: 97 IN COLLABORATION WITH: THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF UNIVERSITIES


HIROSHIMA LECTURES

NO.: II TITLE: PEACE FROM DISASTERS: INDIGENOUS INITIATIVES ACROSS COMMUNITIES, COUNTRIES AND CONTINENTS DATE: MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER ATTENDEES: 65 IN COLLABORATION WITH: HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP PROJECT FOR PEACEBUILDING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT (HIPEC)


HIROSHIMA LECTURES

NO.: III TITLE: THINKING ON THE MEANING OF THE CITY OF HIROSHIMA DATE: THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER ATTENDEES: 72 IN COLLABORATION WITH: INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARCHITECTS (UIA)


HIROSHIMA LECTURES

NO.: IV TITLE: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS IRAQI POST-‐CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION DATE: THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER ATTENDEES: IN COLLABORATION WITH: HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP PROJECT FOR PEACEBUILDING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT (HIPEC)


HIROSHIMA GOVERNOR MISSION TO THE USA

TITLE: VISIT OF GOVERNOR HIDEHIKO YUZAKI OF HIROSHIMA PREFECTURE TO UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS AND WASHINGTON DC DATE: 7 – 9 NOVEMBER 2011 In order to launch his newly developed Hiroshima for a Global Peace Plan, the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, the Honourable Hidehiko Yuzaki, requested the assistance of UNITAR in arranging an audience with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The meeting took place on November 9 2011 in New York where they discussed both the Secretary-General’s historic visit to Hiroshima in 2010 and the Prefectures involvement with UNITAR since 2003. The Secretary-General thanked the Governor for his financial support to the Office and also committed to actively engage with the new Hiroshima for a Global Peace Plan. In attendance were also the Deputy Head of the United Nations Disarmament Affairs Office, the Head of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, and the Japanese Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In addition to this, UNITAR also arranged for meetings between the Honourable Governor and, H.E. Dr. Zahir Tanin, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations and H.E Dr. Hamid Al Bayat, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations. Capping his time in New York, the Governor visited the UNITAR New York Office and was interviewed by H.E. Ambassador Ahmad Kamal, former Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations and Full-Time UNITAR Senior Fellow. In Washington D.C., the Governor met with U.S. Senators Tom A. Coburn (Oklahoma), Saxby Chambliss (Georgia) and Richard Burr (North Carolina). The Senators discussed Japan’s nuclear disarmament vision with the Governor and encouraged him to focus also on peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction. The next day the Governor visited with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States of America, H.E. Eklil Hakimi who personally thanked him for the support of his government to capacity building in Afghanistan. In addition, the Governor also visited Ambassador Alfonso Quiñonez, Executive Secretary of the Organization of American States and a member of the Board of Trustees of UNITAR.


SECTION 1.2 2011 PROGRAMMATIC OUTLINE

Fellowship For Afghanistan: 2010 Cycle Graduation Workshop

Transparency and Anti-Corruption Study Tour to Singapore

Series on the Management and Conservation of World Heritage Sites

Fellowship For Afghanistan: 2011 Cycle Orientation Workshop

Diplomatic Training Series: Tokyo

Fellowship For Afghanistan: 2011 Cycle Workshops II and III - Dubai

Series on Sea and Human Security

Youth Ambassador Programme


PROGRAMMATIC OUTLINE

TITLE: TRANSPARENCY AND ANTI-‐CORRUPTION STUDY TOUR TO SINGAPORE DATES: 21 – 28 FEBRUARY LOCATION: SINGAPORE ATTENDEES: 17

Jointly organized by UNITAR and the Afghan Civil Service Institute and with the financial support of USAID Afghanistan, the programme aimed at providing learning opportunities to selected representatives of the Afghan Civil Service by taking them to Singapore to observe various government and not-for-profit organizations implementing state-of-the-art transparency systems or involved in anti-corruption best-practices research and development. Specifically, this Study-Trip offered an overview of the fundamental framework of accountability, transparency and anti-corruption within the public sector organizations and civil service of Singapore, as well as the research related to it in that country. These were in particular focused upon the relationship between transparency and development. The programme took place in Singapore between 21 – 28 February 2011 and was attended by a total of 17 Participants hailing from differing areas of speciality within the Afghan Public Service, these included;

the Afghan Civil Service Institute (ACSI); the Ministry of Justice; the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission

(IARCSC); the High Office of Anti-Corruption and Oversight; the Ministries Council; and the Office of the President.

The differing organisational models and structural realities under which the participant’s work, and subsequent differing frames of reference held in regards to Transparency and Anti-corruption provided a very interesting dynamic to the event as a whole. One of the issues stressed by many of the Singaporean entities visited during the course of the week was that fact that Singapore, immediately following its separation from Malaysia in 1965, faced a large amount of corruption and a very deep lack of transparency and accountability. Through the vision, the commitment, and the leadership shown by the Heads of State, the public institutions and most importantly, the people of Singapore themselves, the State now ranks amongst the most corruption free in the world.


TITLE Transparency and Anti-corruption Study-trip to Singapore

DATES 21 – 28 February | Singapore

BACKGROUND Emerging from 30 years of conflict, Afghanistan is faced with systemic and interconnected political, administrative, economic, and social issues. While there have been great advances made since the Afghan Interim Authority assumed control of public administration in 2002 and also during the subsequent Karzai administration, government administration is still far from effective. Some of the key issues facing Afghanistan include some misconceptions about transparency and accountability within the Civil Service and related institutions, which allows for increased corruption. The more transparent an organisation is, the more accountable its employees are – assuming responsibility for actions, decisions, and policies while incorporating an obligation to remain answerable for such. The resultant decrease in corruption and increase in trust in the eyes of the public and the international community allows for a greater notion of involvement of various stakeholders, leading to a more effective implementation of public policy

OBJECTIVE To expose high level Afghan Government Officials to state-of-the-art anti-corruption and transparency methodologies coupled with real world examples of organisational and cultural change.

TARGET AUDIENCE The participants consisted of:

Seventeen (17) Civil Service representatives from Afghanistan were selected by the Afghan Civil Service Institute (ACSI) and UNITAR to participate in this programme with three (3) senior ACSI representatives/government officials in accompaniment.

PARTNERS Afghan Civil Service Institute (ACSI)

PARTICIPANTS 17



TITLE: FELLOWSHIP FOR AFGHANISTAN: WORKSHOP I -‐ ORIENTATION DATES: 7 – 11 MAY LOCATION: KABUL ATTENDEES: 55 The 2011 Fellowship started with this, the inauguration Workshop held in Kabul, Afghanistan between 7 and 11 May. Following the success of the doubling of participants to 55 in 2010, the 2011 Cycle of the Fellowship also attracted 55 participants. Notable however is the fact that an increased number of participants and/or their organisations covering their participation costs rising from 13 in the 2010 Cycle, to 29 participants in 2011. The focus of the Workshop was;

Introduction to the Fellowship Introduction to Distance Learning Tools Management of Productive Meetings Effective Communication Tools Leadership in Human Resource Management and

Development Organization Needs Assessment and Environmental

Analysis Connected via video conference, hosted by the Tokyo Distance Learning Centre, Fellows in the programme interacted with international mentors from the following locations:

The University of Calgary Hiroshima University Microsoft Corporation The Singapore International Foundation The University of Texas at Austin

The Assignment set at this Session, that of an Organisational Needs Assessment, sets the tone and trajectory for the programme as a whole, as it utilises the professional training delivered through the programme. The most promising project proposals developed from these form the basis of the Group Project around which the remainder of the Fellowship is structured.


TITLE Fellowship for Afghanistan: Workshop I - Orientation

DATES 7 – 11 May | Kabul

BACKGROUND The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Fellowship for Afghanistan was launched in 2003 as an annual seven-month long programme that aims at building capacity and enhancing the leadership, management and professional skills of a core group of senior government officials, academics and practitioners from Afghanistan. The UNITAR Hiroshima Office, is located in a community that has empowered UNITAR with knowledge and skills on post-conflict reconstruction. Sharing Hiroshima’s lessons following the Second World War, the Fellowship addresses important themes including: Strategic Planning, Organisational Development and Change; Project Design and Management; Human Resource Development and Accounting and Budgeting.

OBJECTIVE The objectives of the Fellowship for Afghanistan are:

To support an Afghan cadre in the application of increased knowledge, to transform their ministries and their public sector as a whole;

To build a committed and highly capable Fellowship community in Afghanistan which can serve as a resource for planning and implementing capacity-building and training activities at the local and national levels.

TARGET AUDIENCE By working with senior Afghan government officials, academics and

practitioners, the Fellowship targets some of the most influential participants in the reconstruction process and has to date developed a network of highly qualified professionals.

PARTNERS Hiroshima Prefectural Government The Municipality of Hiroshima Afghan Civil Service Institute University of Calgary University of Texas at Austin Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan Singapore International Foundation Hiroshima University Microsoft Corporation USA

PARTICIPANTS 55



TITLE: DIPLOMATIC TRAINING SERIES: CROSS-‐CULTURAL NEGOTIATION DATES: 14 – 17 JUNE LOCATION: TOKYO ATTENDEES: 22 This inaugural course, held as part of the Hiroshima Offices impact and awareness raising initiative, was held at the request of and in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Honduras to Japan. It built upon UNITAR's research on the cultural dimension of negotiations when looking at communication, dealings and discussions among United Nations member states. Held at United Nations University, the course attracted 22 participants, including the Ambassador of the Republic of Fiji to Japan, H.E. Mr Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga; the Ambassador of the Republic of Honduras to Japan, H.E. Mrs Marlene Villela de Talbott; the Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to Japan, H.E. Mr Jimmy Ramiandrison and the Ambassador of the Embassy of Republic of Venezuela to Japan, H.E. Mr Seiko Luis Ishikawa Kobayashi. The response o the training delivered was uniformly favourable and led directly to the participation of diplomatic staff in other UNITAR programmes in 2011, namely the Series on Sea and Human Security Session, which took place in October, also in Tokyo. Follow-up requests for training focused on the needs and realities of diplomatic staff have been received and the Hiroshima Office is organising a similar even in early 2012, allowing for a further increase in the visibility and impact of the Hiroshima Office in Tokyo.


TITLE UNITAR Diplomatic Training Series: Cross-Cultural Negotiation

DATES 14 – 17 June | Tokyo

BACKGROUND At the request of the Latin American and Caribbean Group Ambassadors (GRULAC) in Tokyo, UNITAR designed and implemented this training course focused on upskilling representatives of the diplomatic corps in Tokyo with a focused and relevant training, which also targets the ideals of the United Nations. Utilising real world examples, interactive lectures and practical exercised, the Programme examined common misunderstandings regarding the use of culture in negotiation. In addition specific strategies for success were presented also and compared, through plenary discussions to the realities as seen and experienced by the gathered senior Ambassadors and diplomats.

OBJECTIVE The objectives of the Programme were to enable participants to;

Appraise his/her readiness to negotiate with culturally diverse counterparts.

Identify and state the influence of cultural dimension in international negotiations;

Utilize time-tested cultural concepts and theories in relation to negotiation;

Develop a negotiation plan applicable to a particular culture. TARGET AUDIENCE

Diplomats accredited to Tokyo PARTNERS

The Embassy of the Republic of Honduras to Japan United Nations University

PARTICIPANTS 22



TITLE: SERIES ON THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES: UNESCO'S PREPARING WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATIONS MANUAL AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IN THE NOMINATIONS PROCESS DATES: 4 – 8 JULY LOCATION: HIROSHIMA ATTENDEES: 33 The 2011 Workshop took place between 4 and 8 July in Hiroshima, Japan. Organised by the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, which has developed the programme over the preceding seven annual Sessions. Funding was made available by the Prefectural Government of Hiroshima and the following Institutions were represented through Resource Person attendance:

Hiroshima University The International Council on Monuments and Sites

(ICOMOS) The International Union for Conservation of Nature and

Natural Resources (IUCN) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO) The United Nations Institute for Training and Research

(UNITAR) The University of Hyogo

2011 WORKSHOP FOCUS With the release by UNESCO of the new Preparing World Heritage Nominations Manual in 2011*, the focus of the international World Heritage Community will shift to ideals and practices therein. The 2011 Workshop of the UNITAR Series examined the impact of the new manual on preparing nominations and the related issues of management, decision-making and policy formulation. In addition, through discussion with practitioners and experts related to the field, the area of comparative analysis of sites in the nomination process has been highlighted as a major challenge in the preparation of many nominations, and one in which UNITAR’s unique training methodologies and approach to World Heritage Management would be particularly beneficial. As such, and in order to underscore the areas of continuity and change in the Nominations Manual, the primary practical focus of the Workshop was the Comparative Analysis.


TITLE Series on the Management and Conservation of World Heritage Sites

DATES 4 – 8 July | Hiroshima

BACKGROUND The Series, with over 300 Alumni to date, offers a set of innovative approaches to heritage conservation, including:

A values-based management approach; The fusion of cultural and natural heritage management; The recognition of both the tangible and intangible aspects of heritage

values; Uniquely well-placed in Hiroshima, which possesses two World Heritage sites, the Series seeks to utilize UNESCO’s Convention on natural and cultural heritage more effectively by focusing on national policy making and planning.

OBJECTIVE The specific objectives of the 2011 Session were to:

Review the basics of the World Heritage Regime, incorporating updates and current trends;

Elucidate the principles of “Values-Based Heritage Management”; Introduce outline UNESCO’s new Preparing World Heritage Nominations

Manual; Examine the specificities of Comparative Analysis; Through reality-based practical exercises, extract key concepts and

common issues for given sites; Enhance long-term peer learning and exchange among the participants.


Potential or actual heritage site managers; Natural/cultural conservation specialists and trainers; Decision makers and government Officers National academic institutions, think-tanks and civil society.

PARTNERS Hiroshima University International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

PARTICIPANTS 33



TITLE: FELLOWSHIP FOR AFGHANISTAN: WORKSHOP II -‐ LEADERSHIP AND ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DATES: 22 -‐ 25 JULY LOCATION: DUBAI ATTENDEES: 55 Prior to Workshop II, the Fellows had already gone through a rigorous set of learning activities including participation in the Fellowship Orientation Workshop I led by UNITAR Afghan Resource Persons and Coaches, two web seminars, an intensive first assignment, a number of audio-web conferences and project work sessions, in addition to regular e-mail exchanges with their Mentors and UNITAR staff. The Study trip and Workshop II in Dubai were the first opportunity for the Afghan Fellows and Coaches to meet some of their Mentors and UNITAR resource persons and staff in person. The study-trip included a 2-day intensive working session on team building, facilitation and coaching. Sixty three Fellows, Coaches, Afghan Resource Persons, and twelve international Mentors and resource persons from University of Calgary, Microsoft Corp., University of Texas at Austin and Singapore International Foundation attended the events. The workshop was led by Lorne Jaques from the University of Calgary, Michael Fors from Microsoft, Phil Cox, Plan Net/ University of Calgary and David Eaton from the University of Texas at Austin. The group was also joined by Mr Farhad Osmani, Director General Afghanistan Civil Service Institute, H.E. Mr Lukman Faily, Ambassador of Iraq to Japan, the US Chargé d’Affaires to UAE, Mr Douglas Greene, and Mr Javier Ortiz, Executive Director, New World Group and Peace-building Council. We are pleased to report that the lead resource persons of Workshop II were ably supported by the Afghan resource persons (selected from the pool of UNITAR alumni). UNITAR hopes to sustain and expand the roles of selected Alumni as Afghan resource persons each year to facilitate the development of a core group of trainers and facilitators in Afghanistan. During the study-trip Coaches organized a cultural evening where a multi-media presentation on Afghanistan was given by a Mentor and a musical cultural presentation was preformed by the Afghan Fellows.


TITLE Fellowship for Afghanistan: Workshop II | Leadership and Organisational Development

DATES 22 – 25 July | Dubai

BACKGROUND Focused on organizational development for performance and results as the overarching theme for capacity building in the public service in Afghanistan. Workshop II was an intensive and interactive event, structured around elements of leadership and its impact on performance and results, coaching and facilitation of teams, and required Fellows to work in groups on exercises assigned by resource persons. Topics covered included;

Leadership and its impact on performance and results; Stakeholder analysis; The role of social capital and community development; Team development and facilitation.






PARTNERS Hiroshima Prefectural Government The Municipality of Hiroshima Afghan Civil Service Institute University of Calgary University of Texas at Austin Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan Singapore International Foundation Microsoft Corporation USA

PARTICIPANTS 55



TITLE: FELLOWSHIP FOR AFGHANISTAN: WORKSHOP II -‐ : PROJECT PLANNING AND PROPOSAL WRITING DATES: 26 -‐ 29 JULY LOCATION: DUBAI ATTENDEES: 55 Following immediately on from Workshop II, Workshop III in the 2011 Fellowship Cycle saw the emphasis shift to utilising and implementing the lessons learned to date. Lorne Jacques of the University of Calgary led this Session also, introducing the ideas of Leadership, Followship, Development through Projects, Social Capital and Civil Society as they pertain to not only the Fellows themselves but to the state of Afghanistan as it exists today. The ideal of social capital was repeated through the Session and, crucial to the structure and flow of the Fellowship included presentations by graduates of the programme itself, outlining the efficacy and implementibility of the issues presented in the real world. The specific presentations made with regard to Workshop III are as follows:

Leadership Systems for Project Planning; Project Planning; Result Based Management Programme Logic Managing for Change Results Based Management

Joining the Session was the Ambassador of Iraq to Japan, H.E. Mr Lukman Al-Faily, presenting on holistic approaches to programme management, as well as drawing parallels with the experience of Iraq and the current state of affairs in Afghanistan.


TITLE Fellowship for Afghanistan | Workshop III: Leadership and Organisational Development

DATES 26 – 29 July | Dubai

BACKGROUND Workshop III worked to equip participants with a basic knowledge of project planning, design and proposal writing to prepare them for their team projects. The overall objectives of the workshop were: to enhance participants' understanding of project planning; to introduce skills in proposal writing; and to further develop team projects. Topics covered included;

Project planning and design; Project deliverables and objective statements; Results-based management; Risk analysis; Monitoring and evaluation plans; Proposal writing.






PARTNERS Hiroshima Prefectural Government The Municipality of Hiroshima Afghan Civil Service Institute University of Calgary University of Texas at Austin Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan Singapore International Foundation Microsoft Corporation USA

PARTICIPANTS 55



TITLE: SERIES ON SEA AND HUMAN SECURITY DATES: 18 – 21 OCTOBER LOCATION: TOKYO ATTENDEES: 37 The 2011 Session of this unique UNITAR programme saw a collaboration between UNITAR and the University of Tokyo Ocean Alliance. The Ocean Alliance forms a network that spans the entire range of the various fields of ocean research at the University of Tokyo, and provides a breeding ground for new ideas and innovations in ocean science. It represents Japan's largest think tank for ocean related issues and promotes research through cooperation among specialists of various disciplines within and outside the University of Tokyo. UNITAR is proud to partner with the University of Tokyo in this programme. SESSION THEME With the devastating effects of the March 11 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Eastern Japan seared into memory, and with the humanitarian crisis being gradually eased, attention turns, necessarily, to the devastation as evidenced on the coastal areas of Eastern Japan. The natural environment however requires a concerted examination so as to guide policy development and implementation which can serve as models for other nations at risk from such devastation. Taking into account lessons learned from the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, as well as preliminary research and conclusions conducted in recent months in Japan, the 2011 Session of the UNITAR Series on Sea and Human Security will examine the effect of the twin disasters on the Ocean, and on the communities and activities dependant upon it. The sociological and biological impacts will be presented, with the necessity of a comprehensive management approach to both disaster preparedness and response being highlighted. The Session benefitted from the participation od several members of the Diplomatic Community accredited to Tokyo, including the Ambassador of the Republic of Honduras to Japan, H.E. Mrs Marlene Villela de Talbott and the Ambassador of the Republic of Honduras to Japan H.E. Ms. Martha Lidia Zelayandia Cisneros.


TITLE Series On Sea And Human Security: Tsunami And The Natural Environment - Lessons Learned For Effective Planning

DATES 18 – 21 October | Tokyo

BACKGROUND Seas, coasts and the ocean are part of the human security complex. Myriad factors including social, political, environmental and economic aspects of human security depend upon the sustainable and comprehensive governance and management of these areas. Inaugurated in 2002-2003, the UNITAR Series on Sea and Human Security examines, from a comprehensive point of view, the concept of human security as it pertains to seas and the ocean.

OBJECTIVE The specific objectives of the 2011 Session were to:

Identify key issues that have emerged since the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in regards to the ocean;

Examine responses, the lessons learned, and policy development and implementation following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami;

Examine feasible action plans for policy implementation; and Highlight the necessity of a comprehensive approach to Ocean Security.


potential decision makers and trainers within national administrations;

mid- to high level government officials from selected line ministries; and

representatives of NGOs, academia and private corporations. PARTNERS

The University of Tokyo; Hiroshima University; Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia

(PEMSEA); The Nippon Foundation; The Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF); United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

(UNISDR); United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

PARTICIPANTS

37



TITLE: YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME DATES: ONGOING LOCATION: HIROSHIMA ATTENDEES: 42 The inaugural 2010 iteration of the highly successful UNITAR Youth Ambassador Programme was completed in mid-2011 with the two selected Youth Ambassadors for 2010 – 2011 travelling to Tokyo with the Head of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, Mr. Alex Mejia. The trip incorporated protocolary meetings with high level officials as well as briefings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the United Nations University headquarters, the United Nations Development Programme Japan and the United Nations Information Centre in Tokyo. In addition, they met with the Ambassadors of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, H.E. Seiko Ishikawa, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, H.E. Mohammad Amin Fatimie, and the Republic of Iraq H.E. Lukman Faily. During their mission they also discussed the value of diplomacy as a tool for peace-making and development. The 2011 Cycle saw meetings held with the Boards of Education of both Hiroshima City and Prefecture, as well as discussions regarding the programme being held with the Mayor of Hiroshima City and the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture. The response to the programme saw a number of essays received from high-schools throughout the region which were near universally of a very high calibre. The judging panel, comprising representatives of the Hiroshima Prefectural Government; the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation; the Chugoku Shimbun Newspaper; Rotary International District 2710 and UNITAR itself selected two new representatives on December 13 2011.


TITLE Youth Ambassador Programme

DATES Ongoing | Hiroshima

BACKGROUND As the second decade of this 21st century dawns, it is clear the world that will be inherited by the youth of today will be a far more complex, interconnected and dynamic entity than could have been envisaged even a generation ago. Issues that transcend the ability of individual states to counter without deep and concerted local, regional and international integration, understanding and cooperation have become the norm. As these issues develop, and their realities become apparent, it is imperative that the new generation be encouraged to develop not only a full understanding of this intricacy and their place in it, but also a passion for international affairs and the international system. As the only United Nations entity in Hiroshima, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is uniquely placed to provide exposure to this fascinating world of diplomacy and global interaction.

OBJECTIVE Following the success of the inaugural Programme in 2010, UNITAR once again offers the opportunity of a unique insight into global affairs, through the UNITAR Youth Ambassador Programme. This programme represents a further engagement with the community by the UNITAR Hiroshima Office. Through this Programme, two representatives of Hiroshima’s new generation (one male, one female) will be selected and given exposure to international affairs and diplomacy as well as encouraged to explore a career in the field. The Programme and the entries gathered will also act as a touchstone by which the understanding of and engagement with international relations by the youth of Hiroshima can be measured.

TARGET AUDIENCE High School Students in Hiroshima Prefecture

PARTNERS Chugoku Shimbun Newspaper Rotary International District 2710

PARTICIPANTS 18

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