2019

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 as
TV 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.

2BHN AssociatiomVision
We 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 nformationand 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
ProgramTelecom for Basic Human Needs 3

ActivitiesI. 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

4

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 to their countries.
Original program
BHN has been organizing original executive seminars, ‘BHN Human Development Program’ since1998. These two-month seminars are intended to bring up future leaders in ICT and related areas. Theseparticipants not only learn about state-of-the-art ICT but also brush up their skills in management andleadership.

Entrusted program
BHN has also been charged with human resource development programs and symposiums entrusted by
the authorities, Asia-Pacific Telecommunity(APT) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations(ASEAN).
― ‘APT HRD Programs’ annually held programs for ICT engineers in the region, entrusted by APT
since 2012. Ninety-nine people from thirty six countries enrolled the program.
― ‘Symposium on ICT Utilization’ inviting participants from the Asia-Pacific region entrusted byASEAN, 2013 - 2016. Ninety-one people from nine countries took part in the program.

Business collaboration
Since the resolution of Sustainable Development Goals at UN Assembly in 2015, every business sector
started pursuing socially worthy business more than before.
BHN is offering the original program to shift the business conception learning SDGs, mainly targeting on
business persons at national leading ICT companies in Japan.
― Started from 2017, for the first year, 175 persons from two companies partic

Telecom for Basic Human Needs 5

Financial Status
BHN’s income totaled JY 364 million in 2018, up by 106 million from the preceding year. From a source
viewpoint, ‘Grants and Subsidies’ totaled by JY192 million, ‘Business Income / Trustee’ JY 10 million
and contributions – ‘Membership Fee / Donation’ – JY 163 million.

Expenditures totaled JY 256 million, up JY 19 million from the preceding year.

‘Social Development’

item increased up to JY 184 million, 72 % of the total. ‘Emergency Relief’ expenditure was 18 million,
7 % of the total, even though in 2012, the following year of Great East Japan Earthquake, it amounted toalmost 40% of the total expenditure. ‘Human Resource Development’ has been keeping a stable portion
through time, JY 15 million.

Expenditures(2018）

Ｉｎｃｏｍｅ（2018）
300

250

200

45%
150

53%
100

503%
0

Social Development

6Grants and Subsidies

Human Resource Development

Business Income/Trustee

Emergency Relief

Membership Fee/Donation

Administration

BHN Associatiom

Table 1 Major Social Development Support Activities
Project description

County / Area

Support for victims of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident

Russia, Republic of Belarus,(Microwave circuit construction for telemedicine via satellite)

Kazakhstan

Support for wireless network construction for medical care

Period1992 - 1994

Laos, Afghanistan

1998 - 2007,

Donation of PBX equipment in hospitals

Myanmar, Ukraine,Afghanistan

1997 - 2003

Support for telemedicine systems

Malaysia, Thailand

Training of IT skills and wireless technology

Afghanistan

2004 - 2006

Myanmar2013 - 2019

generation systems (Support for ethnic minority returnees, victims Myanmar

2013 - 2019

centers in rural area

1999 - 2008,2010 - 2013

Area information transmission system (disaster management,improving living environment) (an application of Japan's Disaster
Management Administration Radio System")
Installation and training of equipment related to solar powerof conflict)
Construction of and training for community FM broadcastingstationBangladesh

2013 - 2017

Japan (Ishinomaki City area,
Support for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Miyagi Pref., Iidate Village,

ICT support activities for the Kumamoto Earth-quake area

Fukushima Pref.)Japan (Kumamoto Prefecture,(including the area of the Heavy Rains in Northern Kyushu)

northern Kyushu)

2013 - 20182013 - 20192017 - 2019

Table 2 Major Emergency Humanitarian Support Activities
EventCountry / Area

Description of Supports

PeriodEarth-Taiwan, Turkey

Providing radio equip't, Free telephone service thru satellite

1999

quakeIndia

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
Construction of Internet environment for evacuation shelters,

2010 - 2014

construction and restoration of temporary disaster

2011

Japan (3 Prefecturesin Tohoku)
Nepal

broadcasting stations
Construction and restoration of community FM broadcastingstations

Japan (Kumamoto

Community support such as PCs, ICT environments, etc. forPref)temporary housing estate

Japan (Hokkaido)

Community support such as PCs, ICT environments, etc. fortemporary housing estate2015 - 2016
2016
2018

Indonesia (Sulawesi)

Community FM broadcasting station, Distribution of radios

2018 - 2019

TyphoonHondurasProviding communication equipment

1998

CycloneMyanmarCommunity addressing (CA) system2008, 2010

Hurricane

the Philippines

CA system, ICT station2013 - 2014

Japan (Hiroshima

Community support such as PCs, ICT environments, etc. forPref)

temporary housing estate

Indonesia, Sri Lanka

Community FM broadcasting station, Distribution of radios- Construction of temporary housing Internet environ-ment,

Tsunami2018
2005
2011 - 2012

operation support, etc. (Coastal cities in Iwate Prefecture,
Japan (3 Prefecturesin Tohoku)

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

Afghanistan

Free telephone service thru satellite

2002

Iraq

Medical team communication support

2003

Telecom for Basic Human Needs ７