On 9 March 2026, UNU-IAS co-organized a symposium on “Building Resilience through Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships — Insights from Japan”. The event highlighted initiatives in Japan that contribute to enhancing resilience at the local level and discussed the processes of building muti-stakeholder partnerships. The event was co-organized by UNU-IAS and the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ).
In opening remarks, Hirobumi Iida (Councillor, Ministry's Secretariat, MOEJ) noted that the aim of the symposium was to share the outcomes of a study on Strengthening Resilience at Regional Level through Multi-stakeholder Partnerships, to which UNU‑IAS also contributes. He stressed that scaling up local initiatives was essential to building a sustainable society.
Tsunao Watanabe (Visiting Research Fellow, UNU‑IAS) highlighted the need for enhancing social resilience and human well-being in addition to conventional disaster‑risk reduction and mitigation efforts, emphasizing the importance of connecting global and local initiatives through the activities and research conducted by UNU‑IAS.
In a keynote speech, Shizuka Hashimoto (Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo) discussed crucial elements of partnerships that strengthen natural capital and enhance resilience at a local level. He introduced examples of initiatives in Japan including the MIYAGI Green Coast Project, the Kashima Model and the Community Dining Project, whose representatives then shared best practices and lessons learned to enhance resilience through partnerships.
A panel discussion explored strategies for developing and managing effective partnerships, highlighting the importance of generating new ideas, proactive information sharing and maintaining open communication during non‑emergency periods.
Concluding the session, Tomoko Uetake (Director, Environmental Partnership Office, MOEJ) announced the publication of outreach materials summarizing the project's outcomes.
