Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara, Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Malawi, Part 2 (November 20, 2021)

≪Yokohama International Human Resource Development Project≫

―Lectures for university students in Yokohama by Japanese staff of the United Nations

Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara, Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Malawi, Part 2 (November 20, 2021)

●Date and time of implementation:
Saturday, November 20, 2021 21:00-23:00
Marlawi Time Saturday, November 20, 2021 14:00-16:00

●Speaker:
Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara, Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Malawi

●Method of implementation: Online

●Participant: 13 students from the Faculty of International Science and the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Yokohama City University

●Contents of the lecture:
①Role and Approach of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
②Project of the United Nations Development Program in Malawi, Africa
③The importance of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the development of Africa that can be seen through TICAD
④Working at the United Nations, etc.

　In his lecture, Mr. Komatsubara talked about various issues, including the activities of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the fact that the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) has greatly contributed to the continued support of Africa in the international community, the growing role of business in Africa, and the role of the United Nations has been questioned again in light of recent circumstances such as the COVID-19 and digital transformation.
　He also talked about careers, various career paths to work at the United Nations, what is required to work at the United Nations (communication skills, expertise, etc.), and the rigor and value of working as a United Nations employee.
　During the Q & A session, students asked questions about personal information issues related to Malawi's National ID project, the status of achievement of SDGs, the status of cooperation between UNDP and NGOs, and Mr. Komatsubara gave specific answers based on his experience in the field.
　At a later date, students commented, "I thought that the National ID project in Malawi was interesting and that Japan would become a digital backward country in no time," "It was impressive that the power needed for UN staff was human power, communication skills, and expertise," "I often learned from a professional perspective on TICAD, and I was interested in the next TICAD volunteer."