VIENNA, 30 March 2017 – The Government of Japan contributed over US$5.52 million to eight projects implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Somalia, South Sudan and Turkey in response to the needs of communities affected by humanitarian crises and the influx of displaced peoples. These projects place an important emphasis on upgrading vocational and commercial skills, especially of unemployed youth and women.

This was announced at a joint event hosted by UNIDO Director General LI Yong and Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano, the Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, in the presence of representatives from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey.

Ambassador Kitano acknowledged the importance of recipient and donor countries engaging in partnerships for the exchange of technology and know-how to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable groups, particularly unemployed youth and women, refugees, internally-displaced persons and host communities. He praised UNIDO’s focus on inclusive and sustainable industrial development to efficiently address the challenges of today’s society. He also noted that Japan looks forward to further cooperation with UNIDO.

The project in Iran will help the government address the needs of the local population, particularly youth, in the city of Chabahar which has a high unemployment and crime rate. It will promote employment creation in the fishery and ancillary industries through capacity-building of local institutions, upgrading of enterprises and enhancing market access.

In Iraq, a project will aim to support stability, economic recovery and reconstruction for communities affected by the conflict through supporting micro, small and medium sized enterprises and strengthening the capacity of government institutions to deliver vocational training. Another project in the agri-business sector will help strengthen economic resilience and social stabilization in northern Iraq by improving food security and livelihoods of internally-displaced persons, refugees and host communities.

In Lebanon, the project will support affected communities by helping increase the potential for job creation in a selected agro-industrial sector. It will focus on the acquisition of technology and business support services, as well as on vocational training.

The project in Liberia is designed to promote social stabilization by improving the security of vulnerable people and communities affected by the aftermath of the Ebola crisis and a fragile post-conflict setting. It will promote the wood furniture industry and provide vocational skills to unemployed youth.

A project in southern Somalia will aim to provide marketable vocational skills training to the host community and to reintegrate vulnerable populations, especially youth, into the labour market.

In South Sudan, the focus will be put on employment creation for youth and women by introducing diversified work opportunities, such as in the field of agro and food processing and micro-enterprise trade.

A project in Turkey will aim to create employment by providing vocational skills to youth and women refugees in sewing, machine repair, pattern making, production management as well as planning and purchasing.

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For more information, please contact:

Monika Eichberger

Senior Donor Relations Assistant

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