Stories from the Field 06

Voices of Japanese Personnel Working in International Organizations
– Aiming to Eradicate Hunger under Climate Change –

The Path to International Cooperation that Started with Agricultural Science

The author (second from the right) conducting an interview with farmers in the Philippines while conducting research at IRRI

With team members of the FAO (Author is second from the left in the front row)

“Hunger and satiety” – it was this contradiction that I awoke to during my junior high and high school years that made me want to pursue international cooperation. I can eat whatever I want and as much as I want, but there are people in the world who die of hunger. Faced with this reality, I felt that it was my mission to help those suffering from hunger, having grown up in a privileged environment.

In order to eat, we must produce food. For this reason, I studied agronomy (crop science) at university and graduate school. While studying at the graduate school, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a year at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, where I conducted research aimed at establishing rice cultivation techniques to adapt to droughts, which were becoming more severe due to the effects of climate change. With the cooperation of farmers, we assessed the technology in the actual rice fields of 30 farmers and had the opportunity to hear about their situation and challenges. What I realized during this experience was the obvious fact that meaningful agricultural technology would vary greatly depending on the environment and farmer’s situation, and that neither technology dissemination nor international cooperation could be carried out uniformly. This field experience continues to be a great source of inspiration for me even today as I am involved in international cooperation.

Assigned to work at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme

When I was dispatched to FAO under the JPO Programme, I was in my third year after graduation, working on the implementation of JICA rural development projects at a consulting firm specializing in development cooperation. The main reason I applied for FAO as my first choice was that FAO’s goal of achieving food security for all people was in line with the world I aspired to. Currently, I am in charge of designing and implementing climate investment projects for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors in the African region, leveraging funds from the Green Climate Fund (GCF),Note 1 of which Japan is a major donor country. Weather-dependent agriculture and the many poor people who work in it are highly vulnerable to climate change. FAO works to support the agricultural activities of the most vulnerable communities, so that smallholder farmers can adapt to climate change, depending on the situation and priorities of each developing country. For example, FAO proposes projects that strengthen farmers’ capacity and promote improved technologies, along with those projects that reduce deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable agricultural practices. In the design and implementation of climate investment projects, I spend exciting days working with colleagues of different nationalities and expertise not only from the headquarters but also from regional offices and many country offices.

Aiming for a World Without Hunger While Cherishing My Own Life

“You cannot help others unless you are happy.” These are the words of my high school teacher that I still remember. I am currently assigned in Rome away from home, raising my child on my own. Thanks to my considerate supervisor and the support of those around me, even when there are difficult times, I am able to pursue the balance between my career and parenting, cherishing my family and myself.

Working at an international organization felt like a world that was out of my reach. However, as a result of my consistent efforts toward my goal of realizing the world I aspire to without missing any opportunities or connection with others, I am now where I am today. There are many ways to get involved in international cooperation, yet one of the fascinating aspects of working at the UN is using networks around the world and working with people with diverse backgrounds. Moving forward, I will continue to take steps toward eradicating hunger through supporting sustainable and resilient agriculture.

KATO Hoshie
FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy

Note 1: See the glossary.