JICA Chubu
Learn “Human Security” through the video -utilized the material in the international exchange event-

Screened the material in the international exchange event in Nisshin City, Aichi Prefecture

The material was screened in the internal exchange event. We received various comments from participants.

I gave a lecture at the event, “Nhisshin Waiwai Festival 2023”, which was for the promotion of the understanding of SDGs, held by Nisshin City, in Aichi Prefecture, on July 1st, 2023.
This lecture was requested by the executive committee of the event, who asked me to speak about JICA’s activities and world peace in view of the present international situation. There, I screened JICA-Net multimedia-based learning material, “Promoting Human Security in Practice (Senegal)” (YouTube, external link). 16 participants took part in the lecture.
I found it when I was looking for materials to use for the lecture that explains simply about Human Security and Peace-Building for the general public.

What is the required “Human Security” today?

Firstly, the material explains the concept of “Human Security”.

“Human Security” is the idea of creating a world where all people are free from fear and want and live with dignity through protecting and empowering people, which was defined by the United Nations General Assembly resolution, 2012.
The material explains the concept of “Human Security” and introduces JICA’s practical examples. In addition to the Senegal part, there are Zambia (YouTube, external link), and Bosnia and Herzegovina part(YouTube, external link). At this time, I chose the Senegal part because it is easy to explain as I have worked at JICA Senegal office twice before and I am familiar with Senegal.
The Senegal part shows 2 JICA’s projects from the perspective of protection and empowerment in the concepts of “Human Security”: an example of protection is Project on Safe Water and Community Activities (PEPTAC), which spread the water management system, which was a successful case in Méréto Village, among the local people in Senegal and improve people’s living standards. An example of empowerment is Integrated Community Forestry Development Project (PRODEFI), which encourages reforestation activities and aims to improve the local production systems in Nioro du Rip Department which has been suffering from salt damage.

The effective promotion of understanding through the video

Through JICA’s project, some villages in Nioro du Rip Department were able to grow vegetables, which had been suffering from salt damage,

On the day, at the beginning of the lecture, I explained to participants the concept of “Human Security/Peace-Building” in plain words, and then, screened the material. It was shown to promote understanding of "Human Security/Peace-Building".
We received various comments from participants such as “How was the communication with local people advanced?” and “I got the opportunity of thinking about the history of slavery in Africa”. Thanks to the video, the understanding of the local situation and JICA's efforts was deepened.
Screening the material caught participants’ attention at the same time that it explained Human Security and Peace-Building effectively within the time limit of 60 minutes.

As the international situation becomes increasingly severe, Development Cooperation Charter focuses on “Human Security”. This material is useful for activities to get citizens to deepen their understanding widely. Especially, I feel that it would be suitable for lectures for High School and University students.
In order for "Human Security/Peace-Building" to be achieved, I would use the material in the future to create an opportunity for various people to think about this topic.

*At the lecture, with the material, the video “’Human Security’ practiced by OGATA Sadako, ex-chairman of JICA -Philippines and Mindanao-” (Japanese)(YouTube, external link) by JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development was also screened. Please check it out.

KOMORI Masakatsu
Director General, JICA Chubu

FUJIHARA Reiko
Director, Partnership Program Division, JICA Chubu

*The Material(s) mainly applied

Promoting Human Security in Practice (Senegal)

Human Security is one of five basic policies of Japan's Development Cooperation Charter, and JICA has been mainstreaming its concept and approaches. This training material aims to deepen JICA related personnel's understanding on Human Security and its approaches by explaining the concept of Human Security and showing the two projects in Zambia; Project on Safe Water and Community Activities (PEPTAC), and Integrated Community Forestry Development Project (PRODEFI). In these projects, the following perspectives are reflected. 1 protect people from various threats with comprehensive measures 2 empower communities and people to protect themselves.

• YouTube (external link)