UNITAR welcomed 17 professionals from Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon to Japan for the Phase 3 workshop of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation training programme.
4 February 2025, Hiroshima, Japan - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) welcomed 17 professionals from Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon to Japan for an 8-day workshop as part of the training programme " Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Food Security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon ". Supported by the Government and People of Japan, the programme aims to empower participants with the skills and knowledge to develop businesses that contribute to sustainable and resilient food systems and economic development.
The workshop will be held from 4 to 5 February in Tokyo and 6 to 11 February in Hiroshima. Through this training, participants are expected to explore business ideas and design initiatives that address the local needs and challenges in their communities and countries.
Advanced learning in Japan
The 17 participants were selected for their excellent performance in the previous training phases, which were held online. Approximately 200 participants completed the Phase 1 training, of whom 86 advanced to study more complex topics in Phase 2. The Japan workshop is the final phase of the entrepreneurship training. The participants will refine their plans for businesses and projects in the agricultural and food sectors, which they began to develop during the previous phases, into feasible and practical enterprises. The participants will learn from expert lectures on topics such as sustainable business models, financial sustainability, climate resilience and adaptation, community engagement, digital marketing, branding, pitching, and leadership. Additionally, they will join lectures by entrepreneurs (including from Pitchfork Farms in Onomichi City, Hiroshima), field visits (such as to the headquarters of Satake Corporation and Hiroshima Central Eco-Park), mentorship sessions, and group work. The participants will also learn about Japan's post-war reconstruction and Japan's agritech innovations in sustainable agriculture and best practices to expand their perspectives.
On the final day of the workshop, each participant will pitch their business plan for a new enterprise or project. They are expected to showcase innovative and actionable business ideas with the potential to significantly contribute to job creation and resilience-building in the agrifood sector within the region.
Promoting Sustainable Business through Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
In recent years, the Middle East and North Africa region has been severely impacted by conflict, climate change, economic downturns, and unstable political situations, all of which particularly affect the most vulnerable populations. Rising youth unemployment, food insecurity, and poverty make it urgent to foster initiatives that support the lives and livelihoods of communities.
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are central to the region's economy. They play a critical role in revitalizing the local economy and creating much-needed employment opportunities. Since 2016, UNITAR has been implementing training programmes focused on MSMEs and entrepreneurship in the region as part of its social innovation and entrepreneurship pillar. The 2024 training programme focuses on enhancing the capacity of youth entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators to develop business ventures that address local needs and challenges.
Workshop Agenda
4-5 February: Tokyo
Courtesy visits to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Japan, visit to Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) and visit to Shibuya QWS
6 February: Hiroshima
Courtesy visit to the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum
7-9 February: Higashi-Hiroshima
Lectures by experts and group exercises
10 February: Higashi-Hiroshima
Visit to Satake Corporation, Hiroshima Chuo Eco Park, lecture by an entrepreneur from Onomichi City, Hiroshima (Pitchfork Farms) and other expert-led lectures and panel discussion.
11 February: Higashi-Hiroshima
Pitching Preparation, Hackathon, lectures from experts and entrepreneurs, closing and certificate ceremony
About "Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Food Security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon
The "Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Food Security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon" is an entrepreneurship training programme for aspiring entrepreneurs, leaders, and members of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the three countries.
Funded by the Government and People of Japan, the programme will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and network necessary to turn ideas for a social or for-profit enterprise into a business model that addresses challenges and contributes to building a resilient agricultural sector in the region. The training programme will run in three phases from June 2024 to February 2025.
- Phase 1 (July to October 2024): Approximately 200 participants completed online training on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and agribusiness. This phase consisted of self-paced online courses, peer-to-peer discussions, assignments, and webinars by regional and international experts in the field.
- Phase 2 (October to November 2024): 86 top-ranked participants completed online training and received mentoring. In this session, they designed their businesses and projects and developed prototypes.
- Phase 3 (December 2024-February 2025): 17 top performers join the online sessions and the in-person workshop in Japan (Tokyo, Hiroshima). They will develop ready-to-launch blueprints for novel enterprises/projects and will pitch their ideas before the closing.
