Akihiko Tanaka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), met Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at JICA Headquarters on October 19. Salih was back in Japan following a visit in May this year. President Tanaka welcomed him and expressed his wish to deepen cooperation between the two organizations.
High Commissioner Salih shared his impressions from visits to various parts of the world, including Afghanistan and the Sahel region. The two also discussed the importance of opportunities for refugees to pursue higher education.
They also renewed the memorandum of cooperation first signed in 2007. The renewed memorandum sets out two pillars of cooperation: promoting the socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance of refugees, and supporting voluntary and sustainable return. The two sides confirmed that UNHCR, a humanitarian agency, and JICA, a development agency, will work together while making the most of their respective strengths.
Key points
- The JICA–UNHCR memorandum of cooperation, in place since 2007, was renewed
- The pillars of cooperation are the socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance of refugees, and voluntary and sustainable return
- The two sides also exchanged views on higher education opportunities for refugees
Why This News Matters
Refugee assistance often brings to mind emergency food and shelter, but this memorandum looks further ahead, toward self-reliance and return. A partnership in which humanitarian and development agencies share roles offers a useful model for sustaining support over the long term.
It is also notable that higher education was on the agenda. Opportunities to learn can be an important foundation for refugees as they build their futures.
Staff comments
Minato AobaResearch
“Learning that the memorandum dates back to 2007, and that it now names self-reliance and return as pillars, showed me how long-term this cooperation is. The discussion of higher education for refugees also caught my attention.”
Sophie HiroseWriting and translation
“Like Aoba, I was drawn to the point about higher education. With a place to learn, refugees can describe their own futures in their own words. I look forward to support coming from both humanitarian and development sides.”
Mako JozenjiProofreading and verification
“I nodded along with both of you about the long view and the focus on learning. Thinking of emergency aid and self-reliance as one continuous process also means respecting the dignity of the people being supported.”
Editor-in-Chief’s comment
Ren DateEditor-in-Chief
“Cooperation between international organizations can feel distant, but at its heart are the lives and futures of individual refugees.
We hope you will follow along with us as the JICA–UNHCR partnership continues to grow.”