29 May 2026: Japanese Funds-in-Trust Annual Review Meeting
2026/5/29
On May 29, the Annual Review Meeting (Plenary Session) of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust was held at UNESCO Headquarters. This annual meeting serves to confirm the priority areas for project implementation agreed upon by the Government of Japan and UNESCO, and to review the implementation status of projects financed through Japan’s voluntary contributions from the perspective of Japan as a donor.
The plenary session was attended on the Japanese side by Ambassador KANO Takehiro together with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). On the UNESCO side, participants included the Director-General of UNESCO Mr Khaled El-Enany, the Assistant Directors-General and other senior officials responsible for Priority Africa and External Relations, the Education Sector, the Culture Sector, the Natural Sciences Sector, the Communication and Information Sector, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
During the meeting, Director-General El-Enany expressed his appreciation for Japan’s contributions, while the Assistant Directors-General and other senior officials provided updates on the implementation of the UNESCO programmes supported by Japan.
In response, Japan emphasized the importance of further improving the efficiency of project implementation in order to maximize the effective use of limited resources. Japan also reaffirmed its continued support for UNESCO’s efforts, and identified the following three priority areas: 1) the protection of all forms of heritage at risk, 2) disaster risk reduction, and 3) protection of access to information and communication.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on important issues, including the need to ensure broader geographical representation within the UNESCO Secretariat, particularly at senior management level.
The plenary session was attended on the Japanese side by Ambassador KANO Takehiro together with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). On the UNESCO side, participants included the Director-General of UNESCO Mr Khaled El-Enany, the Assistant Directors-General and other senior officials responsible for Priority Africa and External Relations, the Education Sector, the Culture Sector, the Natural Sciences Sector, the Communication and Information Sector, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
During the meeting, Director-General El-Enany expressed his appreciation for Japan’s contributions, while the Assistant Directors-General and other senior officials provided updates on the implementation of the UNESCO programmes supported by Japan.
In response, Japan emphasized the importance of further improving the efficiency of project implementation in order to maximize the effective use of limited resources. Japan also reaffirmed its continued support for UNESCO’s efforts, and identified the following three priority areas: 1) the protection of all forms of heritage at risk, 2) disaster risk reduction, and 3) protection of access to information and communication.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on important issues, including the need to ensure broader geographical representation within the UNESCO Secretariat, particularly at senior management level.