UNITAR Launches 2024 “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction” Programme

On 4 September 2024, UNITAR welcomed 572 participants to the 2024 “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction” training programme, funded by the Government and People of Japan.
The participants share a passion to advance women’s leadership against disaster risks, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
It aims to equip participants with skills to develop inclusive disaster risk reduction plans contextualized to the needs of their communities.
Phase 1 of the programme will be online and run until November 2024. Phase 2 will start in March 2025 and invite 20 top performers to an in-person workshop in Fiji.

9 September 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – On 4 September 2024, UNITAR launched its 2024 “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction” training programme with an orientation webinar. The event brought together 572 like-minded participants with a passion to advance their involvement in women’s leadership against disaster risks, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme aims to equip participants with skills to develop inclusive disaster risk reduction plans contextualized to the needs of their communities.

Around the world, women are at the forefront of caregiving. However, disasters pose a serious risk to the caregiving sectors, making women more vulnerable to disasters. Empowerment and enhanced leadership among women are therefore essential for disaster-prone areas so they may better cope with and mitigate disaster risks.

THE 2024 LAUNCH

At the launch webinar, the Head of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office Ms. Chisa Mikami welcomed the participants to the comprehensive online programme. She highlighted the achievements of the alumni from past cycles, calling upon this year’s cohort to follow in their footsteps.

“I am proud to say that we have many alumni from our previous programmes who are already making significant contributions in the field of disaster risk reduction. These leaders are actively working on the ground, implementing effective strategies and serving as role models for future generations. Their success stories inspire us and reaffirm the importance of investing in diverse leadership.” —Ms. Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office

Ms. Dixi Mengote-Quah, a disaster risk management specialist with the World Bank Tokyo Disaster Risk Management Hub, gave an eye-opening lecture on women’s leadership in disaster risk management. She spoke about gender equality and how women can take a leading role in implementing disaster risk management, provoking interest and interactive discussions among the enthusiastic participants.

Before the participants reconvene in the second webinar, scheduled for 18 September, they are tasked to begin their self-paced online learning through the EdApp platform and are encouraged to join the Prosperity Unlimited online community, which is a UNITAR learning and alumni management platform to foster dialogues and information exchange among UNITAR programme participants and alumni, and UNITAR staff.

THE 2024 WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP IN DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PROGRAMME

Delivered in two phases, the 2024 “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction” Training Programme runs from September 2024 to March 2025.

Phase I (September to November 2024) will be asynchronous online learning with expert-led webinars, group exercises and presentations.
Phase II (March 2025) will invite the top 20 performers from the first phase to Fiji to develop effective disaster risk reduction plans for their local communities.

The programme is free of charge thanks to the generous support from the Government and People of Japan. It is part of UNITAR’s new “Shimanami Collective: Capacity Building for Asian and Pacific Island Countries” initiative, which is a series of training programmes to build resilience against disasters and to enhance sea and human security.

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ABOUT UNITAR

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations. In 2023, UNITAR trained over 500,000 learners around the world to support their actions for a better future. UNITAR has a global presence, with offices in Geneva, Hiroshima, New York and Bonn and networks around the world.

UNITAR Division for Prosperity offers world-class learning and knowledge-sharing services to present and future change-makers from around the world. Through our innovative training and learning opportunities – built on robust adult learning principles – we seek to promote sustainable, inclusive and just economic development and catalyse the creation of decent employment opportunities for all.

UNITAR Division for Prosperity supports youth and women in particular to address growing inequalities. We work in solidarity with diverse partners at the local, regional and global levels to propel the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals and achieve an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world.