That the GreatEast Japan Earthquake and the issue of disaster recovery, preparedness and inclusion in countries’ development plans provide the backdrop to the Annual Meetings is clear not only from programme. Included in the participants’ official kits are three ‘Okiagari-koboshi’, stand-up dolls made in the quake-hit Tohoku area.

Oriagari-koboshi, described as an age-old folk craft of the Aizu area in Fukushima, is a symbol of an spirit that refuses to yield to defeat. Each of the dollars are made of materials representing Iwate, Miyahi and Fukushima,  areas severely hit by the Mar. 11 2011 massive quake.