## Human Resources Development for Peace-building

Requirements in the fields of peacebuilding are becoming more diverse and more complex. In response to these needs on the ground,, Japan has conducted the Program for Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding since FY2007 to develop civilian experts from Japan and other Asian countries who will be capable of playing an active role in this field. Pillars of the program consists of coursework in Japan, where Program Associates acquire the practical knowledge and skills required at the peacebuilding field, overseas attachment, where Program Associates engage in actual work at local offices of international organizations at the peacebuilding field, and support for graduates to build their careers. To date, approximately 160 Japanese and other Asians have participated in the training courses. Many Program Associates are now actively working at the field of peacebuilding such as in South Sudan and Timor-Leste.

Sudan

# “Capacity Development Project for the Provision of Services for Basic Human Needs in Kassala” Technical Cooperation Project (May 2011 - Current)

The state of Kassala located in eastern Sudan had suffered from the conflicts until the enactment of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement in 2006. Sudan has received many refugees from domestic and foreign locations, particularly Eritrean refugees that have continued to flow into the country over 40 years. In such circumstances, the provision of services from governmental agencies has not been able to keep up with the increasing demand for services in the areas of water, agriculture, maternal and child health, and vocational training. In response to the request of the government of the state of Kassala, Japan provides assistance in improving the capabilities of government agencies in these areas, thereby supporting the consolidation of peace through improvement of the living environment of residents.

A workshop aimed at making agricultural distribution smoother (Photo: JICA)

## (1) Assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan

Continuing unstable situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan is a problem not only for these countries and the surrounding region, but for the entire world as well. The international community, including Japan supports Afghanistan to prevent the country from stepping back to

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## Afghanistan

Japan has consistently extended assistance to Afghanistan with the total of approximately 3.22 billion since October 2001. In November 2009, Japan announced the “New Strategy to Counter the Threat of Terrorism”, and decided to provide assistance up to an amount in the region of 5 billion, in about five years from 2009, based on the future situation of Afghanistan. $ ^{18} $

Main areas of Japan’s assistance are (i) assistance to enhance Afghanistan’s capability to maintain security a hotbed for terrorism. The stability of Pakistan, which plays an important role in eradicating terrorism including cleanup operations along the border with Afghanistan, is a key to the peace and stability of the region and the international community.

through such assistance as supporting the Afghan national police, (ii) assistance for the reintegration of former Taliban soldiers through vocational training and development programs for job creation, and (iii) assistance for the sustainable and self-reliant development such areas as literacy and other issues in education, healthcare, agriculture and rural development, and basic infrastructure development (including energy).