Nadi, Fiji - On 1 October 2024, The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) welcomed over 70 participants from government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector from 8 Pacific small island countries to the regional workshop for the "Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security" training programme, in Nadi, Fiji. The Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Fiji, Tuvalu and Nauru H.E.Rokuichiro MICHII as well as high-level officials from the government of Fiji also attended the opening ceremony.
The training programme is financially supported by the Government and the People of Japan and aims to strengthen the professional and leadership skills and regional networks of the participants, build local capacity and increase local resilience to enhance climate, social, economic, food and maritime security.
This 10-day regional workshop in Nadi comprises the second phase of the programme. The workshop participants were chosen from among the top performers from the 9-week online learning in the first phase.
Chisa Mikami, Head of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, extended a warm welcome to the participants and notable guests in her opening remarks.
Your presence here, as leaders and changemakers from across the Pacific region, is a testament to your commitment to fostering a more secure and resilient future and protecting our oceans, said Ms Mikami.
She also expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for their generous support of the programme and the Government of Fiji for hosting the workshop.
NADI WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
In the regional workshop, participants will enhance their leadership skills and broaden their knowledge of sea and human security through expert-led lectures, mentoring sessions, study tours in Viseisei Village and Yako Village, and group work. While enhancing their capacity to address the challenges and needs in the Indo-Pacific, participants will develop group project presentations and individual project plans contextualized to their local communities and topics of interest.
This workshop also provides the participants with networking opportunities and establishes a coordination mechanism across the Pacific.
Highlights of the workshop include the following:
- 1 October: Opening ceremony, sessions from experts on policy entrepreneurship and development
- 2 October: Sessions from experts on maritime security, blue economy and food security
- 3 October: Study tour at Viseisei Village (natural resource management)
- 4 October: Sessions from experts on food security and environmental security
- 5 October: Study tour at Yako Village (hands-on experience on mangrove planting activity)
- 7 October: Sessions from experts on climate security, human rights, and equity
- 8 October: Sessions from experts on gender and inclusivity, maritime security and fundraising
- 9 October: Sessions from experts on leadership development and group work
- 10 October: Group presentations and closing ceremony
ABOUT THE LEADERS FOR A FREE AND OPEN INDO-PACIFIC: SEA AND HUMAN SECURITY PROGRAMME
The "Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security (FOIP)" training programme, implemented by UNITAR and funded by the Government and People of Japan, aims to provide participants with the skills, knowledge and capacity to enhance climate, social, economic, food and maritime security and establish a coordination mechanism across the Indo-Pacific. The programme runs from June 2024 to February 2025 in three phases:
- Phase 1 was an online training. In August 2024, over 450 learners completed two months of online learning.
- Phase 2 is composed of in-person workshops, one in Jakarta (Asian cohort, 10-20 September) and another in Nadi, Fiji (Pacific cohort, 1-10 October), for the 80 top performers from each cohort (160 total).
- Phase 3 is an in-person workshop in Japan, scheduled for February 2025. A total of 50 finalists (planned) from Phase 2 will be invited to join.
The programme is part of the broader "Shimanami Collective" initiative, a Japan-supported series of training programmes that aims to build resilience against disasters and enhance sea and human security, with a particular focus on empowering youth and women in the Asia-Pacific region.
