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MUNICIPAL INSTITUTE FOR |
Background  Situated in the northwestern end of Okayama Prefecture, Tetta Town with a population of some 4,000 boasts the beauty of nature in four seasons. One of depopulated areas in Okayama, however, the Town has been tackling a steady decline in the number of its residents, not to mention children borne by each female. In order to vitalize the whole community, therefore, it began to engage in international exchange/cooperation program on a small-town level by promoting an active interchange of culture and personnel between the Town and the northern town of Meiktila in Myanmar in 1994. Since then it has been providing financial assistance for various projects implemented by AMDA Project Office in Myanmar such as mobile clinics, feeding centers, Mother and Children Ward at Meiktila Hospital and primary health care. AMDA, on the other hand, realizes that there is a necessity to train professionals in managing non-profitable organizations and especially for coordinators/program officers in project sites, despite the fact that existing universities and graduate schools have to date provided quality educational training for international co-operation and development experts.  In the Great Kobe (Hanshin) Earthquake, hundreds of volunteers gathered from throughout Japan, but there were too few coordinators to manage the chaotic circumstances. Furthermore, it is believed that 70-80% of the success in overseas humanitarian relief projects depends upon the competency of coordinators/program officers, thus attesting to the importance of qualified development workers. In the meantime, given the substantial decrease in the number of children, Tetta Town has had no choice but to close Ota Primary School in March 2001. Agonizing over what to do with the abandoned construction, it soon came up with an idea to make the best use of the building for the field of human development and international studies for which AMDA increasingly recognizes the necessity. Accordingly, the Tetta Town Municipal Government wasted no time in taking the initiative in cooperating withAMDA-OGAR* (Association of Medical Doctors of Asia-Organization for Global Assistance and Relief) to review the contents of the programs offered as well  as toobtain support from Okayama Prefecture, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, and other governmental organizations concerned, for the renovation of the school structure and the preparation of equipment needed. As a result, the MIIC Establishment Regulation was enacted in September 2000 and the renovation of facilities began in April 2001 immediately after the closing of the school. The Institute was formerly opened in September 2001. Goals & Objectives AMDA firmly recognizes the necessity for competent human resources. Since its establishment in 1984, AMDA has a wide international network and we realize that the establishment of an educational institute would be an effective way to further these global ties. This is the first municipal government founded institute in cooperation with NGO in Japan and may contribute to the increasingly desired education for NGOs personnel. The  mission of MIIC would be to contribute to the achievement of global peace and development of human resources through education and research on global problems that are currently threatening the lives in less developed countries. In pursuit of AMDA's ultimate goal, "the co-existence of diversity", MIIC is expected to serve the following three functions: 1）To carry out effective humanitarian emergency relief activities; 2）To provide new conceptual frameworks and practical training programmes to development practitioners; and 3）To enhance capacities of volunteers and civil organizations, both in developing and developed countries. Description of Activities 1) Humanitarian Emergency Relief Activities  The “MOMOTARO International Relief Mission” of MIIC is now being organized and prepared for any case of natural and man-made disasters. 2) Practical Training to Program Officers/Coordinators The programmes offered at MIIC will be designed to assist NGO workers and those who wish to be involved in development fields. Students will be able to develop expertise and resources in leadership studies and training, project planning and formulation, negotiation skills and contract management, and a number of methods and skills on participatory learning and action (PLA). Furthermore, the courses focused on health and development will be based on the extensive experiences of AMDA's 16 years of operation throughout the world. Lecturers will be invited from AMDA Chapters (branches) who have been engaged in emergency and developmental projects through AMDA's missions, and members of AMDA-OGAR, including ambassadors to Japan from numerous countries. These individuals will be able to enrich the student's educational experience by passing on experiential knowledge and practical skills.  It should be noted that the role of coordinators/program officers is different from that of experts. Training of coordinators/program officers requires special curricula. Language, negotiation and telecommunication skills are essential requirements. International law, religions and sociology can also help humanitarian activity coordinators/program officers to comprehend principles of the international community. Knowledge of international organizations, economics and politics further enhance the potential of those individuals in coordinating roles. One unique aspect of the curriculum at MIIC is that it would include practical field experience in an international setting. A six-month to one-year overseas experience can help a student develop comprehensive judgment in his or her field. Teaching staff at MIIC will be recruited not only from developed countries but also from developing countries. Graduates of MIIC would be highly qualified for employment at the United Nations, multilateral development banks and other national and international agencies, governments, private  companies and NGOs/NPOs. 3) International Volunteer Training MIIC offers open courses for ordinary citizens to learn the essence of international volunteering that can contribute to international humanitarian relief activities. The Institute also provides numerous programs on international understanding, environment and philanthropy to municipalities and schools. Achievements March 1 - 3, 2002 & February 8 - 9, 2003 The training for Japanese environmental NGO staff and managers was held to enhance their capacities in future international relief activities. Courses offered include lectures on environmental issues, finance/information system/project management, and special visit to welfare facilities. March 12 - 15, 2002 & March 20 - 23, 2003 The training session was conducted for four consecutive days in a close cooperation with the Okayama Prefectural Government. It was designed to introduce core skills required for program officers who should play an important role in effective planning and management of developmental projects at multinational organizations and NGOs. Through a combination of methods such as lectures, small-group discussions and field exercises, the participants had opportunities to gain new experience, develop core skills and apply new learning in the areas they are interested in. |
