ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) launched the second phase of the “Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific “Sea and Human Security” (FOIP) training program on September 10 2024 in Jakarta.
The second stage began with the opening ceremony of the 10 Day Workshop in Jakarta, which was attended by around 80 participants from 12 countries in Asia. High-level representatives from the Indonesian government also attended the ceremony.
The goal of the second phase of the program is to equip leaders and officials from Asia’s public and private sectors through one-on-one workshops with skills and strategies to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
It is known that the “Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security (FOIP) training program is implemented by UNITAR and funded by the Government and People of Japan, running from June 2024 to February 2025.
The main goal of the FOIP program is to provide participants with skills and knowledge to improve climate, social, economic, food and maritime security and build coordination mechanisms throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The FOIP program is part of the broader “Shimanami Collective” initiative, a series of Japan-backed training programs aimed at building disaster resilience and improving sea and human security, with a particular focus on empowering youth and women in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the first phase of the FOIP training program, which ends in August 2024, more than 400 participants successfully completed two months of online learning. For the second phase, UNITAR will organize two workshops: one in Jakarta, Indonesia, in September 2024, for Asian participants, and another in Nadi, Fiji, in October 2024, for Pacific participants.
This phase will provide a total of 80 leaders with hands-on learning opportunities. The third and final stage will invite the top 50 participants to a face-to-face workshop in Japan, scheduled for February 2025.
UNITAR Hiroshima Office Chief Chisa Mikami greeted the participants, saying, “This is your opportunity to not only learn but also share your own experiences and insights, to network, and to collaborate to find solutions that can be implemented in your own countries and communities,”
Meanwhile, Special Staff to the President Indonesia, Billy Mambrasar added that the UNITAR Training Workshop was very relevant to the situation and conditions in Indonesia which continues to strengthen maritime security issues.
Billy said, in line with the Jokowi government and President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s message that the Indonesian nation must be sovereign from a maritime perspective to ensure Indonesia’s geopolitical situation is stable.
“30 percent of poverty in Indonesia is on the coast, of course poverty causes social problems, increases crime and crosses countries involving other countries. “For this reason, the Government is trying to improve coastal education and develop marine ecology,” he explained.
Billy hopes that improving human resources will become a top priority so that maritime security in Indonesia is strong and cross-border relations are well developed.
“I advised UNITAR, there were thousands of people who registered who wanted to strengthen their capacity, while few of those selected were from Indonesia. “Hopefully in the future UNITAR will have a commitment to facilitate more activities like this involving young Indonesians, so that they can contribute directly to the country once they have the capacity,” he said.
Jakarta Workshop
During the face-to-face workshops, participating leaders will gain valuable insights through study visits in Tangerang and Jakarta, as well as through expert sessions on various topics relevant to maritime and human security. They will develop project proposals focused on increasing local resilience in their communities. Participants will also strengthen their leadership and teamwork skills through expert guidance.
Additionally, the workshop serves as a cross-border platform to exchange knowledge and foster regional collaboration through engagement in interactive group work sessions and exploring various networking opportunities.
The workshop in Jakarta includes the following activities:
September 10: Opening ceremony, sessions from marine and human security experts
September 11: Sessions from experts on environmental safety, gender and inclusivity
September 12: Comparative study of natural and coastal resource management in Tangerang (tour around Ketapang Urban Aquaculture, tour around the Mangrove Conservation Area, and interactive workshop)
September 13: Expert session on maritime security and food security
September 14: Study Tour at PT Pelindo Indonesia (introductory session by PT Pelindo Indonesia and tour of PT Pelindo Indonesia facilities)
September 16: Sessions from experts on climate security, disaster risk reduction, human rights and equality, and youth empowerment
September 17: Session from experts on the blue economy, blue finance and fundraising
September 18: Session from experts on leadership development
September 19: Graduation Ceremony.
(AT Network)
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