The Human Resource Strategy Center for Global Health (HRC-GH) was launched as a special program commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). The center was established on September 21, 2017 and has a dedicated office at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM). The center aims at increasing the presence of Japanese nationals in international organizations, and its establishment stems from recommendations of the Working Group on Human Resource Development in Global Health Policy under the Minister’s Special Committee on Global Health, which submitted its report in May 2016. Dr. Hiroki Nakatani (Member, Board of Directors, NCGM) assumed office as the Director of the center. An advisory group consisting of members from relevant organizations has also been established.

The Center is charged with the tasks of the strategic identification and training of individuals, supporting applications of Japanese candidates for international organizations, and facilitating their career development. More specifically, in order to serve as a central coordinating mechanism, it provides the following services:

• Receiving and registrating information concerning potential applicants for international organizations (pooling of human resources);
• Providing technical support, counseling, and follow-up services for registered personnel;
• Gathering HR information from international organizations and working with such organizations to promote recruitment from Japan;
• Planning human resource strategies in collaboration with the MHLW, relevant government agencies, universities, research institutes etc.;
• Cultivating positions in Japan where people can develop careers before securing international employment (provision of “perches” for job seekers).