Japanese

The Mid-Career Course is a professional development course designed to help mid-level professionals working in peacebuilding and international development to further their careers and achieve their career goals. Against the backdrop of the budgetary crisis currently affecting many international organizations, the course provides an opportunity for these professionals to:

1. Take stock of where they are in their career and develop compelling professional narratives which will help them stand out in the job market;
2. Identify concrete steps to improve their leadership skills and enhance core managerial competencies and behaviors;
3. Update their knowledge about current trends shaping the peacebuilding and international development sectors;
4. Learn about Hiroshima City’s recovery following the dropping of the atomic bomb 80 years ago and extract transferable lessons for contemporary peacebuilding initiatives around the world.

The training will be useful for those already working in the UN system, as well as those wishing to apply for mid-level positions in international organizations. The training will be conducted in English. Approximately 20 Japanese and non-Japanese people will participate from all over the world.

The information on this page is taken from the 2025 Mid-Career Call for Applicants (download from link at the bottom of this page). Please be sure to read the Call for Applicants before applying. The Call for Applicants and other relevant documents can be downloaded from Section 7. at the bottom of this page. 

January 7, 2026 (Wednesday) to January 13, 2026 (Tuesday) (in-person)

There will also be one pre-training online session in December 2025 (date to be confirmed later).

The training will mainly take place at Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama 1-3-2, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 739-8511, Japan (about 4 hours by bullet train from Tokyo). Participants will stay in accommodation on campus (https://miraicrea.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/).  

There is no cost for participating in the Course. In addition, for non-Japanese participants, the Program will cover transportation costs between Tokyo and the training venue (Higashi-Hiroshima City) and accommodation costs during the training. Please note that travel to/from Japan; food; or any other miscellaneous personal expenses are not covered by the Program. The cost of participation for Japanese candidates will come to approximately 120,000 yen (including accommodation, food, and travel between Tokyo and Higashi-Hiroshima).

We welcome applicants from a variety of countries with diverse backgrounds, including international organizations, the public and private sectors, as well as NGOs/NPOs. In order to apply, you must have:

• At least seven years of professional experience in peacebuilding and/or international development (e.g., administration, communications, economics, engineering, finance, human resources, humanitarian aid, IT, law, political affairs, procurement, public health, security, supply chain management, environment, and related fields). Work experience in international organizations is not a prerequisite, but familiarity with the UN system and international development issues will be an asset.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• A strong interest in building a career in peacebuilding and development, in particular at the UN and other international organizations.
• Commitment to actively and fully participate in the Course (you must be able to attend all days of the Course).

Please download the “Mid-Career Course Application Form” and email it to gpad-midcareer@office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp by Monday, September 1, 2025 (5:00 PM Japan Time).

UN staff members may substitute “3. Employment” with the UN Personal History Form or curriculum vitae, but please be sure to indicate staff categories, levels and contract type. Applicants will be notified of the selection results by email in early October.

For more information, please refer to the “Mid-Career Course for Fiscal Year 2025 (Jan 2026) – Call for Applicants“, or visit the GPAD website.

Monday, September 1, 2025 (5:00 PM Japan Time)