The WHO Kobe Centre (WKC) was established in 1995 with strong financial and material support and collaboration from the Kobe Group through a decision of the World Health Organization Executive Board. The Kobe Group includes Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Kobe Steel. Given that it functions as a department of WHO Headquarters but was also established as a result of strong local support, the WKC has both a global and a local mandate. The focus of WKC local engagement is three-fold.