Supporting Women Worldwide: UN Women Japan on the Reality of Funding Shortages and a Circle of Giving

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UN Women is the United Nations entity that promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women around the world. The Japan National Committee for UN Women (UN Women Japan), a certified nonprofit, supports its work financially from within Japan.

At Global Festa Japan 2026 we spoke with Secretary General Ms. Kaori Nagakura and Vice Chairs Ms. Ito and Ms. Honda. What are the pressing issues they face, and what “wishes for the next generation of women” come through bequests? Here are voices from the field about how we can help from Japan.

Japan’s window for supporting women’s empowerment

UN Women Japan collects private donations in Japan to support, financially, the work of the UN entity UN Women.

“We are the national committee for UN Women, the UN body that promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women. We collect private donations in Japan so they can be put to use in UN Women’s activities.”

So explains Vice Chair Ms. Ito. Behind its work, however, lie great difficulties.

A serious funding shortage and the wall of fundraising

The biggest challenge named was a shortage of funds.

“The biggest problem is a funding shortage. We can no longer do support we used to be able to do at all.”

Ms. Ito spoke with a sense of urgency. As funding becomes tighter internationally, with support from other countries being cut, support from Japan matters more than ever.

Fundraising in Japan is not easy either. Vice Chair Ms. Honda described the reality.

“Fundraising is hard. People may give if it is support for Japan, but this is support for distant places like Africa, so donations are slow to come.”

At the root of the problem, she says, is low name recognition. “Awareness is low. Unless it rises, donations do not come in,” she said, hinting at how hard daily awareness-raising is.

Wishes entrusted to the next generation

Even in difficult conditions, there is one story that greatly encourages the team: when a donation arrived as a bequest.

“A person who passed away left this behind, wishing to improve the status of women for the next generation even after they were gone, so we feel we must use it with great care.”

Funds entrusted as a bequest carry a strong wish for future women, and that has become one of the driving forces that move the association’s work forward.

What we can do in Japan

How can we support their work in our daily lives? Ms. Ito calls for understanding and sympathy about the current situation.

“I really cannot say that women’s participation and human rights are protected, either around the world or in Japan. So we want people to know about this, to agree, and to give funds.”

The association is currently recruiting “UN Women Monthly Supporters,” who support through regular monthly donations. According to the flyer at the booth, as funding runs short because of aid cuts by many countries, continuing donations make it possible to respond quickly to emergencies and plan for long-term support.

It also runs campaigns for areas hit by disasters and conflict. The booth featured the “Nepal Debris Flow Emergency Fund.” On August 26, 2026, a large debris flow caused by a glacier collapse struck northern Nepal, damaging many villages, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities. UN Women has begun supporting “community kitchens,” meal stations run by women affected by the disaster, and the campaign backs that work with donations from Japan.

“I believe supporting the lives of those who remain is also women’s mission,” as the words go, and the association is raising donations to back women’s contributions in difficult circumstances.

The first step toward protecting women’s rights and livelihoods around the world is to learn about the situation and take action, even a small one. Why not join the circle through UN Women Japan’s work?

Interview information
Interview: NGO network Japan editorial team / Event: Global Festa Japan 2026 (booth no. 103) / Dates: October 17–18, 2026