UNESCO Jakarta organized the second interview session of the “Sustainability Insight in 30 minutes” on 29 June 2020 from 14:00 to 14:30 (GMT+7). In this series, we invite one implementing partner at a time and learn from their knowledge, experience, and view of the post-pandemic new normal. As a guest of the second session, we invited Prof. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, a long-time contributor of the UNESCO IHP programme in the Asia Pacific region. Approximate 2,000 people watched this interview through an online platform and Facebook streaming.

Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Office in Jakarta and Regional Bureau for Science invited Prof. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, Professor Emeritus of Yamanashi University to share his story of the early days of UNESCO International Hydrological Programme Regional Steering Committee (IHP-RSC)and the achievement of IHP-RSC. Prof. Takeuchi introduced Catalogue of Riversand Catalogue of Hydrologic Analysis (CHA)as important products of the IHP-RSC, which strengthened the national and regional collaboration throughout the process and earned international recognition among IHP community.

Prof. Takeuchi is also a founding director of the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), Category II Centre in Japan. Responding to Prof. Shahbaz question about the value of having educational courses at ICHARM, Prof. Takeuchi explained that he considers education is the best way of knowledge transfer. Brilliant students from across the region have a great potential to take a leading role in research and science-informed policy change in national level.

In addition, Prof. Takeuchi emphasized the value of trans-disciplinary approach, which should be practical, transparent, and engaged by stakeholders at different levels of governance in his view. He expects the UNESCO Jakarta, IHP, and JFIT to take a leading role in promoting trans-disciplinary approach.

The recorded video is available at our Facebook page.