The United Nations – The Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme 2016/2017

On 22 April 2004, the United Nations and The Nippon Foundation of Japan concluded a trust fund project agreement to provide capacity-building and human resource development to developing States Parties and non-Parties to UNCLOS through a Fellowship Programme.
The Programme is jointly executed by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). DOALOS serves as the focal point in charge of all substantive elements of the Project. DESA, in its capacity as implementing agency for the Project, is responsible for providing certain administrative services to the Project on behalf of DOALOS.


Scholarship Offered Since: 2004
Who is qualified to apply?
Candidates wishing to be considered for a Fellowship award must ensure that they meet all the following criteria:
–          You must be between the ages of 25 and 40;
–          You must have successfully completed a first university degree, and demonstrate a capacity to undertake independent advanced academic research and study;
–          You must be a mid-level administrator from a national government organ of a developing coastal State, or another government related agency in such a State, which deals directly with ocean affairs issues, and your professional position must allow you to directly assist your nation in the formulation and/or implementation of policy in this area. This includes marine sciences and the science-policy linkage. Your “Nomination and Recommendation Form” should be completed by a Government official who can attest to the nature of your work with respect to the Government’s ocean affairs and law of the sea related activities, and indicate how an Award would directly contribute to these activities; and
–          Your proposed research and study programme must contribute directly to your nation’s formulation and/or implementation of ocean affairs and law of the sea policies and programmes.
By what Criteria is Selection Made?
Satisfaction of the above criteria must be clearly demonstrated by the candidate through the application forms and confirmed by a nominating authority.
Programme Structure
The 9-month Fellowship Programme is composed of two consecutive phases which provide Fellows with advanced and customized research and training opportunities in their chose fields:
–          Phase One: 6-month Advanced Academic Research and Study – undertaken at one of the prestigious participating Host Institutions and under the guidance of subject matter expert(s) who have recognized in-depth expertise in the Fellows’ chosen field of study.
–          Phase Two: 3-month Research and Training – normally undertaken at DOALOS at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Eligible Countries: Open for International Students
Application Deadline for the 2016-2017 Session is 11 September 2015
Offered annually? Yes

How to apply

If you need more Information about this scholarship, kindly visit the Scholarship Webpage
Sponsors: The United Nations and The Nippon Foundation
Fellowship Objective
The objective of the fellowship is to provide opportunities for advanced education and research in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea, and related disciplines including marine science in support of management frameworks, to Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing States, so that they may obtain the necessary knowledge to assist their countries to formulate comprehensive ocean policy and to implement the legal regime set out in UNCLOS and related instruments.