This is the abstract of the paper presented by professor Chika Saito and second year master student Oscar Andres Gomez in the conference "Mainstreaming Human Security: The Asian Contribution", held in Bangkok, October 4th and 5th. This paper and a presentation about "A Case Study of the World Bank Inspection Panel-China Western Poverty Reduction Project" were the subject from October 30th session. Hereby, the abstract.
United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) is one of the most important mechanisms to promote the application of the evolving concept of human security and put it into practice. Launched by Japanese government and the UN Secretariat in 1999, the trust fund supports a broader conception of human security, enhancing projects that aim to bridge two types of classical cooperation – humanitarian and developmental – in order to fill what is called “the gap”. The criteria to be eligible for funding are specified in its Guidelines, which principally are based on the recommendations made in the report of the Commission on Human Security entitled “Human Security Now”, with emphasis on prioritizing geographical areas, addressing vulnerable groups, and advancing multi-sectoral and inter-agency approaches. These emphases reflect the Japanese approach to the concept of human security, focusing on freedom from want and broader developmental issues, though encompassing freedom from fear through empowerment and protection is included in the objectives of the trust fund.
The flagship project of the UNTFHS, ongoing in Northwestern Tanzania, is analyzed as a case study based on the deep personal insights obtained from a UNDP Country Program Adviser of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the UNDP HQs, involved in the project. Based on the project’s experience in implementing the human security concept by applying the Guidelines, three keys were identified: flexibility; effective coordination; and empowerment of the grassroots workers. The first refers to the capacity to integrate a broad range of issues in one project; the second to the teamwork generated throughout the project planning and execution; and the third to the generation of new possibilities of actions for those facing dilemmas in the daily decision-making on the site. The practical implications of the findings are articulated in order to contribute to the further understanding of the significance of the HS concept.