Class 22 (2023-2025)
Haruna Fukaya, Japan
Duke University – Master in International Development Policy
International Development | Peace and Conflict Resolution | Governance | Policy and Planning
Haruna Fukaya holds a BA in Language and Area Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. After graduating from the university, she joined the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which implements Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects overseas.
During her career at JICA, she gained diverse experience in its headquarters in Tokyo and African countries.
From 2014 to 2016, she worked in the Office for Global Issues and Development Partnership in JICA HQ. There, she worked on strengthening partnerships with multilateral development banks and bilateral development partners. Her main roles included facilitating communication at the operational level and organizing regular high-level dialogues with partners.
She has been working for African countries since 2016. Initially, she was in charge of the country program in the Republic of Ghana in JICA's African Department for a year and a half. Her main responsibilities were to manage and guide JICA's interventions in the country, including planning, budgeting, progress management, and formulation of intervention strategies, such as evaluation processes for large grant aid projects and concessional loans.
From 2018 to 2022, she worked in country offices in Burkina Faso and Democratic Republic of the Congo as a deputy chief representative. There she experienced multiple tasks in both project management and administration in several sectors, such as agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, health, and education, including vocational training.
These experiences in conflict and post-conflict countries have inspired her to improve her analytical skills and further her knowledge and experience in humanitarian issues and peacebuilding as well as international development.
In the MIDP program, she would like to study multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms among a wide range of actors. After completing the study, she aims to design projects with greater added value and impact on society based on the nexus of humanitarian, development and peace.