Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, CEO of MNRE, UNITAR Staff, and participants.
After three years of virtual training, the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme held its opening ceremony at the Orator Hotel, Samoa on Tuesday 7 March 2023, to officially launch its in-person training.
This is the first time the UNITAR Division for Prosperity has held workshops in Samoa and is also the first time the DRR programme has held in-person training outside of Japan.
Eighteen participants from nine countries in the Pacific and Asia are in Apia to undergo this Leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction training.
Ms Frances Reupena, the CEO of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, opened the program with a Samoan proverb “E au le ina’ilau a tina ma tama’ita’I” which translates to women and girls can achieve anything they set their minds to, or women will get the job done.
A timely reminder for the participants as they embark on their DRR journeys this week on leadership and management. Ms Reupena was followed by remarks by the Ambassador of Japan to Samoa – H.E Mr Keisuke Senta, who congratulated the participants and highlighted his recent disaster experience with the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Haapai volcanic eruption and induced tsunami while as the ambassador to Tonga then the Director of the Division of Prosperity of UNITAR – Ms Mihoko Kumamoto gave the last address.
This 5-day training programme is grounded on the Sendai Framework that aims to train the next generation of leaders in disaster and resilience.
To equip women with practical skills and knowledge that will help them lead gender-inclusive and community-based disaster risk reduction management.
Eighteen participants were selected from the first phase of the UNITAR DRR Programme hailing from Fiji, India, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga will participate in study tours for community and site immersion.
The participants will collaborate and build supportive networks with each other and resource persons. They will also develop disaster risk management plans based on their learnings, which they will present at the end of the programme.
Expertise and resource persons for this UNITAR training are in partnership with multiple Samoa-based organizations including, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, National Emergency Operating Center, National University of Samoa, Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Nuanua o le Alofa, Samoa Red Cross, Samoa Faafafine Association, The ROGERS, Samoa National Youth Council, Oceania SMART, and UN Women.
Since 2016, UNITAR Division for Prosperity trains women professionals from small island developing states to help their countries and communities better prevent, prepare, confront, and recover from disasters. The program has since expanded to include all genders.
The in-person training is part of the second phase of the 2022 programme. The programme is financially supported by the Government and the People of Japan.