Statement by H.E. Ambassador MIKANAGI Tomohiro, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN, at the PBC Ambassadorial-level meeting on the Inter-American Development Bank Framework for Supporting Populations in Situations of Fragility, Conflict, and Criminal Violence
2025/1/17
(As delivered)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank the USG Ryder for his briefing. I also appreciate Mr. Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for his presentation.
We value the tireless efforts by the SG, as demonstrated in his latest report on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Japan, as a country which has been making efforts in the area of peacebuilding, in collaboration with other member states, including through its role as the informal coordinator between the Security Council and PBC, appreciates reflection of our discussion and input in the report. Today, I would like to highlight three potential areas for UN-IDB collaboration.
First, Japan supports stronger collaboration between UN and IDB in monitoring situations on the ground and analyzing root causes for conflicts, which should lead to further collaboration in early warning and response to support national effort towards sustaining peace. PBC can be a useful venue for discussing how this can be done.
Second, as emphasized in the latest SG report, we must make effort to advance innovative funding initiatives to scale up long-term financing for development. Currently, the IDB and Japan are jointly running a program called the “Transformational Start Ups' Business Acceleration for the SDGs Agenda” program, known as TSUBASA”, which means “wing” in Japanese. This program utilizes expertise and experience of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in international cooperation over the past 50 years, and IDB Lab’s extensive network, resources, and specialized knowledge in fostering innovation. It has supported 27 Japanese start-up companies in Latin America. For example, a Japanese company called Singular Perturbations, has been contributing to improvement of local security by using crime prediction algorithms. Another company called DIVE INTO CODE, has been providing IT education and employment opportunities. This program might provide some inspiration for the UN and the IDB in thinking about how they can combine their respective capacities to promote innovative funding for peacebuilding.
Third and finally, collaboration with the PBF. The PBF strategy underscores the Fund’s expertise, connections and seed funding focusing on cross-border regional approaches, facilitating transitions, and the inclusion of women and youth. There is great potential for PBF seed funding to be a catalyst for further investments by the IDB. The PBC may therefore consider inviting the IDB to its relevant country- or region-specific meetings, especially when related PBF projects are showcased.
Mr. Chair,
In conclusion, we are grateful for your dedicated chairmanship throughout last year. This is another great initiative. The PBC should also consider planning meetings like this with other IFIs, including ADB, Asian Development Bank.
In this important year of PBAR, Japan stands ready to discuss how we can strengthen the relationship between the UN and the IFIs for improving Peace Building Architecture.
I thank you.
I thank the USG Ryder for his briefing. I also appreciate Mr. Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for his presentation.
We value the tireless efforts by the SG, as demonstrated in his latest report on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Japan, as a country which has been making efforts in the area of peacebuilding, in collaboration with other member states, including through its role as the informal coordinator between the Security Council and PBC, appreciates reflection of our discussion and input in the report. Today, I would like to highlight three potential areas for UN-IDB collaboration.
First, Japan supports stronger collaboration between UN and IDB in monitoring situations on the ground and analyzing root causes for conflicts, which should lead to further collaboration in early warning and response to support national effort towards sustaining peace. PBC can be a useful venue for discussing how this can be done.
Second, as emphasized in the latest SG report, we must make effort to advance innovative funding initiatives to scale up long-term financing for development. Currently, the IDB and Japan are jointly running a program called the “Transformational Start Ups' Business Acceleration for the SDGs Agenda” program, known as TSUBASA”, which means “wing” in Japanese. This program utilizes expertise and experience of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in international cooperation over the past 50 years, and IDB Lab’s extensive network, resources, and specialized knowledge in fostering innovation. It has supported 27 Japanese start-up companies in Latin America. For example, a Japanese company called Singular Perturbations, has been contributing to improvement of local security by using crime prediction algorithms. Another company called DIVE INTO CODE, has been providing IT education and employment opportunities. This program might provide some inspiration for the UN and the IDB in thinking about how they can combine their respective capacities to promote innovative funding for peacebuilding.
Third and finally, collaboration with the PBF. The PBF strategy underscores the Fund’s expertise, connections and seed funding focusing on cross-border regional approaches, facilitating transitions, and the inclusion of women and youth. There is great potential for PBF seed funding to be a catalyst for further investments by the IDB. The PBC may therefore consider inviting the IDB to its relevant country- or region-specific meetings, especially when related PBF projects are showcased.
Mr. Chair,
In conclusion, we are grateful for your dedicated chairmanship throughout last year. This is another great initiative. The PBC should also consider planning meetings like this with other IFIs, including ADB, Asian Development Bank.
In this important year of PBAR, Japan stands ready to discuss how we can strengthen the relationship between the UN and the IFIs for improving Peace Building Architecture.
I thank you.