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UN Migration Agency’s Senior Regional Advisor for Asia Receives Honor from Japanese Government

The UN Migration Agency’s (IOM) Senior Regional Advisor for Asia Akio Nakayama (left) receives an award from the Japanese Government for his significant achievements in contributing to the mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between Japan and IOM. Photo: IOM 2017

El Consejero Regional Superior de la OIM para Asia Akio Nakayama (a la izquierda) recibe un premio de parte del Gobierno de Japón por sus significativos logros en cuanto a contribuir a la comprensión mutua, la amistad y la buena voluntad entre Japón y la OIM. Foto: OIM.

Switzerland - Akio Nakayama, the UN Migration Agency’s (IOM) Senior Regional Advisor for Asia received an award from the Japanese Government for his significant achievements in contributing to the mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between Japan and IOM. Nakayama was presented the award by Ambassador Junichi Ihara at a specially organized dinner at the Ambassador’s residence in Geneva, Switzerland, on 19 June.

When receiving the award, Nakayama noted that he “would like to give all credit to our hard-working field colleagues for any accomplishment we have made to date, particularly those working in the crisis situation in support of vulnerable people.”

“Having served as Senior Regional Adviser for Asia in the last six years, I have had great opportunities to participate in the development of institutional policy at global and regional levels. Policy must be implemented in the field and must be constantly reviewed based on feedback from the field. I am happy to switch the role from the one seeking feedback from the field to the one providing it to HQs now,” continued Nakayama.

“As we are striving for common goals under SDGs, and the development of Global Compact on Migration, we all should work harder than ever to uphold our coherence, and I am happy to make my contribution to this endeavor from the field,” said Nakayama.  

In two weeks, Nakayama will start a new assignment in IOM as Chief of Mission for IOM Myanmar. It will be his eighth assignment within IOM since 1996, including the Philippines, Serbia, Kosovo, Pakistan, Japan, and Headquarters.

“It is a great pleasure to be assigned to Myanmar at this critical juncture where IOM is running a wide range of migration and humanitarian projects in close partnership with the Government and people of Myanmar through 12 sub-offices with over 700 staff members,” said Nakayama on his new appointment.

For further information, please contact Olivia Headon at IOM HQ, Tel: +41794035365, Email: oheadon@iom.int