Worldwide Support for Development-Handa Haruhisa Program
About
Thanks to the generous support of Dr. Handa Haruhisa and his Worldwide Support for Development (WSD) philanthropic organization, the Pacific Forum has been able to establish a number of WSD-Handa Programs aimed at promoting peace and security throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and beyond, with special emphasis on preparing the next generation of responsible global citizens.
These programs include WSD-Handa Resident and Non-Resident Fellowship Program, the WSD-Handa Chair in Peace Studies, and other WSD-Handa supported special events.
More than 100 future leaders have been granted the opportunity to work with Pacific Forum experts through the resident and non-resident Handa Fellowships and through participation in WSD-Handa events around the globe over the past two decades. Some are already finding their way into government leadership positions and others will most surely follow, all thanks to the support provided by Dr. Handa and WSD.
Worldwide Support for Development
Worldwide Support for Development (WSD) is a Japan-based non-profit organization committed to assisting disadvantaged people and communities across the globe. WSD aspires to help create a world where people – no matter where they live – can be safe, happy, and economically secure while enjoying a high standard of living. The organization facilitates international cooperation on issues related to social welfare and education, supports academia, and assists people who are experiencing social and financial need.
To this end, WSD supports and partners with numerous organizations around the world. Through these collaborative undertakings, WSD seeks to influence global communities by:
- Facilitating forums and lectures with global thought leaders;
- Supporting established organizations in the fields of public welfare, healthcare, women and children’s advocacy, and disaster relief;
- Working closely with communities in poverty;
- Conducting research gatherings and charity fundraising events;
- Supporting academia at all levels and promoting democracy around the world; and
- Coordinating events related to international cooperation.
Meet the Current WSD-Handa Chair in Peace Studies
Ralph Cossa is President Emeritus of Pacific Forum and WSD-Handa Chair in Peace Studies. He is a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum’s Experts and Eminent Persons Group and a founding member of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific. Mr. Cossa is a political/military affairs and national security specialist with more than 50 years of experience in formulating, articulating, and implementing US security policy in the Indo-Asia-Pacific and Near East–South Asia regions. Mr. Cossa served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1993, achieving the rank of colonel and last serving as special assistant to the commander of the US Pacific Command. He previously served as Deputy Director for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies and earlier as a national security affairs fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Mr. Cossa holds a BA in international relations from Syracuse University, an MBA in Management from Pepperdine University, and an MS in strategic studies from the Defense Intelligence College. He also received an honorary PhD in international relations from the University of Cambodia.
Message from the Chair
“It continues to be my great honor to serve as the first WSD-Handa Chair in Peace Studies at the Pacific Forum. I have seen first-hand the extraordinary humanitarian contributions that Dr. Handa, through the Worldwide Support for Development, has made throughout Asia and globally. His support to the Pacific Forum has made it possible for the next generation of experts and officials to be exposed to the world’s leading political and security figures, including US President Barrack Obama and former Secretary of State Colin Powell to European and Indo-Asia-Pacific leaders like UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Australian Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, and Philippine President Fidel Ramos. Every one of these former leaders took time out of their busy schedules to personally meet with our Handa Fellows and Associates at WSD-organized events. The Handa Chair has exposed current and future leaders to policy insights and recommendations that shine a new light on many of Asia’s most challenging political, economic, security, and humanitarian problems.
More than 100 future leaders have also been granted the opportunity to work with Pacific Forum experts through the resident and non-resident Handa Fellowships and through participation in WSD-Handa events around the globe over the past decade. Some are already finding their way into government leadership positions and others will most surely follow, all thanks to the support provided by Dr. Handa and WSD.”
– Ralph A. Cossa, May 2022
WSD-Handa Special Events
Pacific Forum resident and non-resident WSD-Handa Fellows, along with members of the Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders and Hawaii Asia-Pacific Affairs Leadership (APAL) programs have also participated in WSD-Handa events throughout the world, including programs in Cambodia, Singapore, Rome, Geneva, Tokyo, and Washington DC. Recent engagements are listed below.
WSD-Handa Fellowships
Pacific Forum offers resident and non-resident fellowship opportunities through the generous support of the Worldwide Support for Development and Dr. Handa Haruhisha. During their time with Pacific Forum, WSD-Handa Fellows conduct independent research with guidance from Pacific Forum senior staff, which will culminate in publication in Issues & Insights or other reputable journals. Fellows also assist with ongoing Pacific Forum research and support the execution of its programs. They are given the opportunity to attend Pacific Forum conferences, seminars, and workshops, which presents further opportunities to learn from US-Asia policy experts and architects. They also participate in Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders program and special WSD-Handa-supported events.
More information about how to apply for this opportunity can be found here.
