Over 70 participants from government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector from eight Pacific Island nations convened in Nadi for a 10-day regional workshop aimed at enhancing leadership skills in sea and human security.
The workshop, part of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) “Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security” programme, which was officially opened this morning at the Nalagi Hotel seeks to strengthen the leadership capacities of Pacific leaders, focusing on climate, social, economic, food, and maritime security.
Chisa Mikami, Head of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office welcomed the participants and guests in her opening remarks.
“Your presence here, as leaders and changemakers from across the Pacific region, is a testament to your commitment to fostering a more secure and resilient future and protecting our oceans,” Mikami said expressing gratitude to the Government of Japan for their generous support of the programme and the Government of Fiji for hosting the workshop. The Nadi workshop represents the second phase of the broader UNITAR initiative, which began with a nine-week online course. The top-performing participants from the first phase were selected to attend the in-person workshop. The initiative is designed to create a network of leaders across the Pacific, capable of addressing the region’s unique security challenges.
The workshop offers a robust schedule of expert-led sessions, hands-on learning, and field trips designed to deepen participants’ understanding of sea and human security. The programme includes study tours to local villages such as Viseisei and Yako, where participants will engage in natural resource management and mangrove planting activities.
The event itinerary will cover discussions on maritime security, the blue economy, food security, climate change, and gender inclusivity. Participants will also work on individual and group projects aimed at addressing security challenges in their respective countries.
The workshop in Nadi is part of a larger, three-phase programme set to conclude in February 2025. After the online learning and regional workshops, the programme will culminate with a final in-person workshop in Japan. Fifty participants from the Nadi and Jakarta cohorts will be selected to attend this final phase.
This initiative is part of the “Shimanami Collective,” a Japan-supported program focused on enhancing sea and human security in the Asia-Pacific, with an emphasis on youth and women.
The Nadi workshop will run until 10 October, with participants working on both individual and group projects that will be presented during the closing ceremony.
The opening ceremony saw the participation of several key figures, including the Japanese Ambassador to Fiji, Tuvalu, and Nauru Rokuichiro Michii, and Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations, Jone Maritino Nemani.
