Timed with the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made many announcements about talks and meetings. In Japan, disciplinary action over fraud in ODA was also reported. This roundup focuses on topics related to international cooperation.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs bars two companies from procurement contracts over ODA fraud, including fictitious billing and overpayments
From the editors: The article reports on penalties for companies found to have committed fraud in ODA procurement. ODA is international cooperation funded by taxpayers’ money, and this response draws attention as a way to maintain transparency and trust.
Address by Prime Minister Takaichi at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From the editors: This is the prime minister’s General Debate address, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The strength of an official announcement is that, beyond news headlines, you can check the full text of the speech as a primary source.
Foreign Minister Motegi attends the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From the editors: This is a meeting on UHC, which aims for everyone to receive the health services they need. It is a field Japan has long prioritized, and a theme closely related to NGOs in the health sector.
G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Ebola Response (Summary) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From the editors: This is a summary of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on measures against Ebola. Infectious disease control is closely tied to the work of organizations providing medical aid on the ground.
Ambassador for Global Issues Sugiura attends meetings related to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From the editors: These are meetings related to the GPE, an international framework supporting education in developing countries. They offer clues to trends in international funding and policy for NGOs working on education support.
Ambassador for Global Issues Sugiura attends a side event during the High-Level Week of the 81st UN General Assembly: “Implementing the Sendai Framework: ASEAN’s Efforts on Comprehensive Disaster and Climate Resilience” | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From the editors: This is a side event on the Sendai Framework, which was adopted in Japan. The question is how the experience of disaster-prone Japan can be put to use in disaster risk reduction and climate action in Asia.
Japan–Nepal Foreign Ministers’ Meeting | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From the editors: This is a meeting between the foreign ministers of Japan and Nepal. Large-scale debris-flow damage in Nepal was also reported this week, so attention is on where cooperation between the two countries will go.
Reception held to encourage Japanese UN staff | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From the editors: This is a reception encouraging Japanese staff working at the UN. It is also a topic that may prompt young people aiming to work at international organizations to think about their careers.
Is “diplomat = University of Tokyo” no longer true? Regional and women’s universities, and a ranking of alma maters of increasingly diverse Ministry of Foreign Affairs career staff (Asahi Shimbun Think Campus)
From the editors: The article reports that the universities that Ministry of Foreign Affairs specialist staff come from are becoming more diverse. It suggests that careers in international cooperation and diplomacy are opening up to people from a variety of backgrounds.
Headlines belong to the respective news outlets and sources (copyright remains with each). Please read the full articles at the linked pages. The “From the editors” comments were written by the NGO Network Japan editorial team based on the headlines.