Machiko Kondo’s family was unique in its egalitarian sharing of household tasks and her father’s belief that women in the future should stand on their own feet.

Although Machiko graduated with a law degree, when she took her first job in Tokyo, she was still undecided about what career she should pursue.

Led by her interest in languages and cultures, she was encouraged to meet a dynamic American social worker who was leading a group of highly educated career women of various nationalities in their human services work across national boundaries.

Seeing her committed involvement as a professional, this mentor encouraged Machiko to attend Case Western Reserve University in the US for a Masters in social Administration.

Machiko returned to Japan to work as a social services officer with the same international organization. When a board member of the UN University in Tokyo visited from New York, Machiko’s boss sent her to the reception. There they began to speak about Machiko’s international interests.

Over the next 5 years, this UN administrator stayed in touch and encouraged her to meet the UN recruitment mission when they came to Japan. At age 35, after two interviews, the UN had chosen one of their best candidates for UNHCR and sent her to Geneva. Machiko’s training and experience in the management of human services, strategic planning, budgeting and staffing were put into an international context.

Machiko’s husband, Robert Whiting (USA), a freelance writer, has always supported her and been proud of his wife’s achievements.

Following her initial 2 ½ year assignment in Geneva, Machiko was posted in one of the most difficult UNHCR operations: Somalia.

One 50-year-old woman in a camp was severely depressed after months of thwarted efforts to find a host country. Her worn face was transfigured by joy and years of grief were shed when she received her papers. She invited Machiko for tea from her meagre allotment. Machiko savoured a cup of tea from a successfully placed refugee, a humble but great reward for the UNHCR efforts.

Machiko recalls a poignant moment after Ethiopia and Somalia signed a peace agreement. A planeload of ex-prisoners of war was airlifted from the Mogadishu airport. A flow of refugees cleared for repatriation was waiting to slowly cross the small river marking the border when suddenly both sides agreed to open up the newly built bridge and a happy flood of families poured across. Machiko later drank tea on the Ethiopian side and felt that her strenuous efforts were rewarded.

In the late 80’s, Machiko was sent to Pakistan to work with 2000 urban refugees from Iran and Iraq. Her task was to identify permanent homes, mostly in the USA, Canada, Nordic countries and Australia. Most of these young, single male refugees were educated. Despite English language training offered through local Pakistani schools, they frequently became frustrated during the long wait for placement. Near riots, hunger strikes, self-immolation, and other threats were part of the challenges of her days.

When Machiko was first recruited in the 80s, opportunities for women to advance in the UN system were limited.

By 1990, consistent efforts by the UNHCR office in Geneva under Mrs. Ogata as High Commissioner, brought more opportunities for women to assume leadership roles.

There were no female UNHCR country representative in the Asian area when Machiko was assigned to Indonesia in 1991; but in 2001, there are two women out of 17. Perhaps in 10 years, there will be more opportunities beyond the middle management level. Even in the camps, there is a promotion of balance in male/female activities. Women can now stand in a separate line for food and do not need to depend on a male to get supplies.

Machiko was assigned to head the UNHCR sub office on a small Indonesian Island near Singapore. There were still many Indochinese who had fled Vietnam and Cambodia in late 1980s. Following a comprehensive plan of action, Machiko’s staff carefully examined each case and worked with resettlement or return of the non-refugees for orderly departure.

Some families did select voluntary repatriation after complex negotiations with the Vietnamese authorities. Machiko worked closely with the UNHCR office in Hanoi and with NGOs to welcome them back, offer reintegration services and development projects. A simple $50/person repatriation grant was very helpful in income generation for the returnees and relatives could pool funds. Eventually all non-refugees returned to Vietnam. Machiko points to this successful operation as one of the highlights of her career.

Machiko admired the Vietnamese refugees for their resourcefulness. Often informal markets would spring up on the periphery of the camps.