Ms. Ishigaki attended the High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries, held in Manilla, Philippines, on 28-29 April 2025. She delivered a statement to provide updates on UN-Habitat’s work and strategic direction, including the development of the new Strategic Plan 2026-2029.

Ms. Ishigaki visited Surigao City with Mr. Christopher Rollo, Habitat Programme Manager of UN-Habitat Philippines. They attended the Community Engagement hosted by the Huy-anan Nan Bajaus, Opening of Neighborhood Shop and Partnership Signing at the Ecovillage, Sitio Panubigon, Barangay Lipata, Surigao City.

UN Habitat contributed to relocating houses of Bajaus, indigenous people, from cyclone affected informal settlements in the district by applying People’s Process approach.

Ms. Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director, and Ms. Ishigaki, Regional Director, visited the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila, Philippines, and met with Ms. Fatima Yasmin, Vice President, Sectors and Themes. They discussed on strengthening future cooperation in systematic way.

Ms. Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director (ED), and Ms. Ishigaki, Regional Director, visited Mr. Arnaud Peral, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines at UN House and attended a roundtable discussion with members of the UN Humanitarian Country Team where ED gave updates on UN-Habitat’s work and strategic direction, including the development of the new Strategic Plan 2026-2029.

UN-Habitat led by Executive Director Rossbach and Regional Director Ishigaki held a high-level bilateral cooperation meeting with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) led by Undersecretary Henry Yap, to reaffirm and strengthen institutional partnership and cooperation in addressing adequate housing and sustainable urban development challenges in the Philippines.

Ms. Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director, and Ms. Ishigaki, Regional Director, visited the Department of Foreign Affairs and met Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo.  They had a productive discussion on multilateralism and the UN’s crucial role in advancing sustainable urbanization and ensuring adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all.

Ms. Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director, and Ms. Ishigaki, Regional Director, attended the special session on ‘Housing and Urbanization – Leadership in Action’ co-organized by Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.  Ms. Rossbach gave an opening speech and stated that housing is a critical component of sustainable development, especially in rapidly urbanizing regions like Asia and the Pacific, including Thailand.

Together with Ms. Rossbach, Executive Director, Ms. Ishigaki visited the Baan Mankong program implemented by Thailand’s Community Organization Development Institute (CODI).  CODI’s flagship program focuses on upgrading housing for low-income urban communities through a participatory approach, involving residents in every step from planning to implementation. We learned so much from this approach which fosters sustainable and tailored solutions for local needs.

Ms. Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director, and Ms. Ishigaki, Regional Director, had a bilateral meeting with Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Honourable Special Assistant, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, to discuss on strengthening UN-Habitat’s presence in Bangladesh. 

Ms. Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director, and Ms. Ishigaki, Regional Director, had a bilateral meeting with Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), Malaysia, to congratulate the 2025 Chairmanship of ASEAN and discuss on future strengthened collaboration with UN-Habitat. 

Ms. Rossbach, UN-Habitat Executive Director, and Ms. Ishigaki, Regional Director, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security and discussed how to strengthen collaboration between Thailand and UN-Habitat.

At the 81st ESCAP Commission Session held in Bangkok, UN-Habitat Lao PDR introduced a climate change adaptation project being implemented through the Adaptation Fund in cooperation with the Government of Lao PDR. Ms. Ishigaki gave a closing speech saying that when local leadership is strong, when communities are empowered, and when knowledge flows freely, we can make a real difference – not only in cities and villages in Lao PDR, but across the Asia-Pacific region.

Ms. Ishigaki attended the opening session of the 81st ESCAP Commission Session with UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach.

From the left, Executive Director Rossbach, Regional Director Ishigaki, and Bangkok Programme Office Chief Popuri.

Ms. Ishigaki attended a side event of the 81^st ESCAP Commission Session “Safeguarding Cities against Water-Related Hazards and Earthquakes” co-organized by the Government of Japan, UN-Habitat, ESCAP, and Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning System (RIMES).  She delivered a closing remark, advocating immediate action to promote risk-sensitive urban development.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach and Ms. Ishigaki visited the UN-Habitat stand booth with at the venue of the 81^st  ESCAP Commission Session.

UN-Habitat ROAP organized the first Networking Seminar of the Fukuoka Platform for Sustainable Cities in Asia and Pacific (Fukuoka-SUSCAP); and Ms. Ishigaki delivered the keynote speech “UN-Habitat’s Initiatives Toward Sustainable Urban Development​ ～Achieving the SDGs～​.”

Hon. Mr. Makoto Oniki convened a meeting of the Japan Parliamentarians on Habitat; and Hon. Mr. Tetsushi Sakamoto, Hon. Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, and other Parliamentarians’ offices attended.

Ms. Ishigaki reported on the recent initiatives of UN-Habitat including early response towards Myanmar Earthquake and shared the way forward. The parliamentarians expressed high expectation for UN Habitat activities.

UN-Habitat ROAP organized the first Networking Seminar of the Tokyo Platform for Sustainable Cities in Asia and Pacific (Tokyo-SUSCAP); and Ms. Ishigaki delivered the keynote speech “UN-Habitat’s Initiatives Toward Sustainable Urban Development​ ～Achieving the SDGs～​.”

Ms. Ishigaki visited H.E. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo. She expressed her appreciation for his participation in the 1st Network Seminar of the Tokyo Platform and exchanged views on public-private-academic partnership projects  in Thailand in collaboration with UN-Habitat ROAP.

Mr. Fujimoto, Chief Executive of the Environmental Bureau, Ms. Hiraki, Executive Director of the Environmental Policy Department, and Mr. Sakaguchi, Executive Director of the Facility Department, visited ROAP to extend their greetings following their new appointments on 1 April  2025. We exchanged views on the challenges in terms of promoting a waste management method called “Fukuoka Method,” and discussed ways to further strengthen our cooperation.

Mr. Shoji Hirano, Executive Director of International Affiars Bureau, Fukuoka Prefecture visited the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP). He expressed his appreciation for ROAP’s continued support of the human resource development program that Fukuoka Prefecture has been implementing since 2013. This year, the UN-Habitat ROAP will continue to place a strong focus on human resource development, as a way of expressing our gratitude to the people of Fukuoka and Kyushu for their continued support.

Ms. Ishigaki attended the Fukuoka Women’s Peace Committee of Soka Gakkai, in the “SDGs Forum for Shaping the Future – Women’s Empowerment Will Change the Future,” held at the Kyushu World Women’s Center. She delivered Keynote Speech, introducing UN-Habitat activities, and sharing her experience as the first female Regional Director of the Office, along with a message on female empowerment for the mostly female participants.

Ms. Uehara, Executive Director of the International Affairs Department General Affairs and Planning Bureau and Mr. Higuchi, Director of the International Policy Section of the Bureau, Fukuoka City, visited ROAP to extend their greetings following their new appointments on 1 April 2025. Ms. Ishigaki briefed the planned establishment of the Fukuoka Platform for Sustainable Cities in Asia and the Pacific Region and exchanged views on collaboration on support to Myanmar earthquake recovery, as well as the Asian-Pacific City Summit, which will be held in Fukuoka in 2026, with the Fukuoka City serving as the secretariat.

Deputy Mayor Otake (left in the photo) and Planning Director Uchida (right in the photo) of Kota Town, Aichi Prefecture, visited to express their gratitude for their visit to the UN-Habitat Cambodia Office on 31 January 2025. They exchanged with the Regional Director views on opportunities for collaboration for building global level capacities of Japanese youth.