Japan seeks to increase nationals in international organizations

Key facts

• Japan is seeking to increase the number of its citizens working in international organizations like the UN.
• The initiative is partly intended to counter China's rising influence.
• Japan aims to have 1,000 Japanese nationals working in UN-related agencies by 2025.
• Currently, 958 Japanese nationals hold professional-level or higher positions in UN-related agencies.
• The Japanese government supports this through programs like the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme.

Japan is actively considering new strategies to increase the number of its citizens employed by the United Nations and other international organizations. This push is partly motivated by a desire to establish a stronger counterbalance to China's growing global influence. Despite being the third-largest financial contributor to the UN, Japan has historically had a relatively small representation among the organization's staff.

The Japanese government has set a goal to have 1,000 Japanese nationals working within UN-related agencies by the year 2025. As of the end of 2023, the number stood at 958 professionals or higher-level staff, a figure that has seen growth over recent years. To achieve its target, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is actively engaged in recruiting, training, and supporting talented Japanese individuals through programs such as the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme. These efforts aim to cultivate personnel with specialized knowledge and capabilities to address global challenges and enhance Japan's presence on the international stage.