2021

BHN Association
Telecom for Basic Human Needs

Telecom for Basic Human Needs 1

About BHN Association
Instituted by top leaders of ICT industry in Japan, the BHN Association (BHN) was established in 1992
as a non-governmental organization specializing in ICT*. BHN commenced its first support activity forthe people afflicted by the catastrophic disaster at Chernobyl (1992-94) constructing microwave networks
between Obninsk and Moscow, about 120 km, and implementing medical information system as well asTV conference system to the hospitals. Since then, we had continued our efforts to realize our vision tothis day.
BHN stands for basic human needs, that is, fundamental requirements to be satisfied for a person to live
like a decent human being. Securing food, clothing, and shelter have traditionally been supposed to form
essential part of basic human needs requirements. However, at the present time, we could say that gaining
an access to ICT also constitutes the requirements.
The activities of BHN are performed mostly by volunteer experts –experienced skillful ICT engineers andspecialists. BHN mobilizes its human capital such as knowledge, experience, skill and human networks tocarry a variety of projects. In order to deliver the best result to the local communities, we collaborate withlocal actors such as people, communities, partner organizations and governmental agencies. BHN deploys
activities in three major groups – i) social development, ii) emergency relief, and iii) human resource
development.

*ICT=Information and Communication Technology
The fundamental importance of ICT infrastructures as an essential element in the economic and social
development has been recognized at United Nation’s Assembly in 1981.

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VisionWe seek a society where anyone can live with a sense of security and safety no matter where they wereborn and no matter where they live. We also strive to assist people to have sufficient access to
information and communication that are indispensable to accomplish the aforementioned society.

MissionWe endeavor to fully employ the power of ICT so as to help people improve their standard of living indeveloping regions and save the lives of people in disaster area.

Midterm Plan
In our midterm plan from 2018 to 2020 (fiscal year), BHN aims to contribute on achievement of SDGs,
specifically Goal 3, 4 and 9*, through our activities. We will focus on making betterment for the local
people of our targeting area in terms of telemedicine and rural health care, ICT education and training anddisaster risk reduction utilizing appropriate ICT tools.
*BHN’s activities are highly related to the following SDGs Goals：
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 4: Quality education
Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Telemedicine

Community Radio

Human Resource Development

Telecom for Basic Human Needs 3Activities
I. Social Development
There are a number of underprivileged people whose basic human needs are not sufficiently met. BHN
supports such people and communities to improve their standard of living and to develop their capabilityby ICT.

The projects BHN has conducted （Refer to Table 1.）— Establishment and management of a community radio station for disaster risk reduction andbetterment of rural communities— Electrification of rural habitation with solar power generation— Training for usage and maintenance of ICT systems following implementation— Telemedicine network over internet for mother before and after childbirth and her infant (perinatalperiod care)— Telemetering system to monitor river water level for disaster prevention— Distance learning system at isolated school utilizing multimedia technology

II. Emergency Relief
Natural disasters such as earthquake, flood, cyclone and tsunami disrupt communities and threaten
people’s lives.
As an emergency relief, BHN provides those affected in the devastated areas with ICT support to getlifeline information and to access to communication networks for quick recovery after disease.
The projects BHN has conducted （Refer to Table 2.）— Community addressing system to furnish timely indispensable information— Restoration of community radio station and provision of broadcasting equipment— ICT support – PC, printer and internet access – for local governments and residents— Safety confirming system using telephone— Wireless and satellite communication system as an emergency measure

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BHN Associatiom

III. Human Resource Development
Human Resource Development is a core activity field of BHN. We are giving ICT engineers andgovernmental officers of ICT department in developing countries opportunities to learn the forefront
technologies and its application.
BHN Human Resource Development Program （Refer to Table 1 ＆ Graph）
BHN Human Development Program (the ‘Program’) was established in 1998 as BHN’s own humanresource development program aiming to foster future leaders in the ICT field in Asian countries. The
Program has been inviting promising persons currently from 9 Asian countries in every year andprovided them with comprehensive training program in the two semesters, that is, the first semester inMalaysia and the second semester in Japan. Until the latest 22nd Program, accumulated number of theparticipants is 169 persons from 13 countries.
Asia-Pacific Telecommunity human resource development program (APT-HRD)
APT, founded on the joint initiatives of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1979, has been providing human capacity
building activities programs to its member countries and territories.
BHN has been charged with human resource development programs entrusted and sponsored by APT /EBC-J* since FY2012.
Participants in the program take the lectures from the ICT experts and researchers in Tokyo and visit thecompanies and projects to see the ICT application with their own eyes. However, the program in 2019was suspended due to the sweeping COVID-19.
The program resumed in the form of online training in 2020 and 2021, many participants take the course
at home country.
*EBC-J : Extra-Budgetary Contribution from the Government of JapanBHN Dr. Kuwabara’s Fund Donation Course

BHN Dr. Kuwabara’s Donation Course, the master’s course established at the National University ofElectro-Communications, Tokyo, in 2019, covers the study of “Information and Communications
Technologies for SDGs” and “International Communication for Science and Technology”.
A number of students from foreign countries take this course along with Japanese students.
BHN Dr. Kuwabara’s Fund Scholarship Program
BHN Dr. Kuwabara’s Fund Scholarship Program (the ‘Kuwabara Scholarship’) was established March,2020 funded by the considerable donation from Dr. Moriji Kuwabara, former Chairman of BHN
Association. Based on the mind of Dr. Kuwabara, the Kuwabara Scholarship has offering the opportunity
to the former participant of BHN Human Development Program for studying in one year master course at
the top Japanese Universities which are National Graduate Institute for Policy Study and Hitotsubashi
University Business School and obtaining higher skill and knowledge. The Kuwabara Scholarshipbasically accepts two scholarship students in every year.

Telecom for Basic Human Needs 5

Financial Status
BHN’s income amounts to JPY 254 million in FY2020.
From a source viewpoint, “Grants and Subsidies” takes up JPY 174 million. “Business Income/ Trustee”
holds JPY 5 million and “Membership Fee/ Donation” JPY 75 million.
BHN’s expenditures totals JPY 218 million in FY 2020. Made up as follows;“Social Development” makes up JPY 162 million, “Emergency Relief” JPY 2 million, “Human Resource
Development” JPY 11 million, and “Administrative Expenses” JPY 40 million.

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BHN Associatiom

Table 1 Major Social Development Support Activities
Project description

County / Area

PeriodSupport for victims of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident(Microwave circuit construction for telemedicine via satellite)

Russia, Republic of Belarus,
Kazakhstan

1992 - 1994

Support for wireless network construction for medical care centersin rural area

Laos, Afghanistan

1998 - 2007

Donation of PBX equipment in hospitals

Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan

1997 - 2003

Support for telemedicine systemsMalaysia, Thailand

1999 - 20082010 - 2013

Training of IT skills and wireless technology

Afghanistan

2004 - 2006

Area information transmission system (disaster management,improving living environment) (an application of Japan's Disaster
Management Administration Radio System")

Myanmar2013 - 2019

Installation and training of equipment related to solar power
generation systems (Support for ethnic minority returnees, victims ofconflict)

Myanmar2013 - 2019

Construction of and training for community FM broadcastingstationBangladesh

2013 - 2017

Support for victims of the Great East Japan EarthquakeJapan・Emergency Support

Iwate pref.

・Broadcasting stations
・ICT support

Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima pref.

Ishinomaki, Miyagi pref. Iitate,Fukushima pref.

ICT support in disaster stricken areas
・Earthquake in Kumamoto, Kyushu

Japan・Torrential rains in western Japan

Hiroshima pref. Asakura,・Torrential rains in northern Kyushu

Fukuoka pref. Marumori,・Typhoon 15 & 19, in 2019

Miyagi pref.

・Torrential rains in 2020

Kure, Saka and Mihara, Hiroshima pref.

2016 - 20202018 - 2020
2020
2020
2020

Kumamoto pref.

Disaster risk reduction support and health and hygiene awareness
Myanmarimprovement projects in schools and villages in Gwa Township, RakhineState20202021 -Support for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Japan(Ishinomaki City, MiyagiPref.), Iidate Village,Fukushima Pref.)ICT Support activities for the victims in disaster stricken areas;
・Earthquake in Kumamoto Pre., Kyushu

Japan(Kumamoto, Kyushu)
Japan(Kure/Saka/Mihara,Hiroshima)・Torrential rains in western Japan, Hiroshima Pref.

2011
2011 - 20142011 - 20192011- 20202011 - 20192016 2018 -Telecom for Basic Human Needs 7

Table 2 Major Emergency Humanitarian Support Activities
EventEarthquakeTyphoon
CycloneHurricaneTsunami

County / Area

Description of Supports

PeriodTaiwan, Turkey

Providing radio equip't, Free telephone service thru satellite

1999

India

Communication support for medical teams

2000

IranFM broadcasting station equipment, Distribution of radios

2004

PakistanFree telephone service thru satellite, Community addressing(CA) system

2005

Indonesia

Well pump, Distribution of radios

2006, 2009

Haiti

Community FM broadcasting station restoration, CA system

2010 - 2014

Japan (3 Prefecturesin Tohoku)

Construction of Internet environment for evacuation shelters,
construction and restoration of temporary disaster broadcastingstations2011Nepal

Construction and restoration of community FM broadcastingstations

2015 - 2016

Japan (KumamotoPref)

Community support such as PCs, ICT environments, etc. fortemporary housing estate

2016

Japan (Hokkaido)

Community support such as PCs, ICT environments, etc. fortemporary housing estate

2018

Indonesia (Sulawesi)

Community FM broadcasting station, Distribution of radios

2018 - 2019

Honduras

Providing communication equipment

1998

MyanmarCommunity addressing (CA) system2008, 2010

the Philippines

CA system, ICT station2013 - 2014

Japan (HiroshimaPref)

Community support such as PCs, ICT environments, etc. fortemporary housing estate

2018

Indonesia, Sri Lanka

Community FM broadcasting station, Distribution of radios

2005

Japan (3 Prefectures- Construction of temporary housing Internet environ-ment,

2011 - 2012in Tohoku)

operation support, etc. (Coastal cities in Iwate Prefecture,
Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, etc.)- Construction of Information Network for Victims (Iidate

2011 - 2012

Village, Fukushima Prefecture)- Construction and restoration of broadcasting stations,2011 - 2012

distributing radios (Tohoku 3 prefectures)
Refugees

8Afghanistan

Free telephone service thru satellite

2002

Iraq

Medical team communication support2003

BHN Associatiom

BHN HRD
12180
160

10140
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106991099984887889852380888860
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32000＊ 0ParticipantsParticipants-accumulated＊Number of the participant is zero in 2020, because the scheduled 23rd Program (First Semester)in fiscal year 2020 was postponed to the next year.

Telecom for Basic Human Needs 9