Message from Permanent Representative

On 1 January this year, the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Nairobi was established.
On this occasion, I would like to extend my greetings as the Permanent Representative of the Mission.
 
The Embassy of Japan in Kenya had had its UN Section to conduct the work of the Government of Japan with international organizations in Nairobi. At this juncture, the Government has carved out its work with international organizations from the Embassy, let the new Permanent Mission, which is organizationally independent of the Embassy, conduct the work, and thus elevated our relationship with the United Nations Office at the Headquarters for Africa in Nairobi. Through this new and elevated relationship, the Government of Japan will further strengthen its cooperation with the UN Headquarters in Nairobi.
 
Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge the world faces. In recent years, however, there has been a growing awareness of its overlap with two other global crises, namely biodiversity loss and pollution including marine plastics and waste. It is imperative to recognise this overlap and formulate policies that ensure that actions in different areas do not cancel each other out, but rather enhance synergies. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has an important role to play here, as the UN's main environmental agency.
 
In addition, urbanisation around the world is accelerating and urban problems are becoming increasingly acute. In providing housing in conflict and disaster areas, more and more sophisticated approaches catering for specific needs on the ground are demanded to ensure human security. It has become increasingly important for all who work on the ground to find hints for solutions by bringing together ideas, policies and practices of those who have engaged in these challenges around the world, and learning from each other, through the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
 
UNEP and UN-Habitat have traditionally been headquartered in Nairobi. Currently, a growing number of UN agencies, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), are moving some of their headquarters functions to Nairobi. In this way, the UN's Nairobi headquarters is rapidly expanding its substantive HQ functions. The Japanese government will also have to carry out some of the work with international organizations in Nairobi that it has been traditionally handled in New York or Geneva.
 
As Japan's relationship with Africa grows closer, we will also need to strengthen our ties with the Africa and East Africa regional offices of the various international organizations based in Nairobi.
 
From all these perspectives, the Government of Japan opened its Permanent Mission in Nairobi at a good time. It is a pleasure for me to work with the various international organizations and the representatives of countries to the United Nations Office at the Headquarters for Africa in Nairobi in this new position. I hope to join forces with all of you to make progress on the various issues that the world faces.