United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme
Human Resources Development and Advancement of the Legal Order of the
World’s Oceans
and
United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Sustainable Ocean Programme
Critical Needs Fellowship
Call for applications for the 2020 sessions of the Programmes
The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the
United Nations (“OLA/DOALOS”), is now accepting applications for the following two Fellowship
Programmes:
1. The 2020 session of the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship; and
2. The 2020 session of the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Critical Needs
Fellowship.
The deadline for the submission of applications for both Fellowships is 13 September 2019.
1. The United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship
The objective of the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship is to provide
funded opportunities for advanced training in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea, or
related disciplines including marine science in support of management frameworks, to mid-level
Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing States so that they may
obtain the necessary skills to assist their countries in the implementation of the legal framework set
out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and related instruments, as
well as to formulate comprehensive ocean management regimes, including within the context of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The structure of the Programme consists of two phases: a three-month training phase with
OLA/DOALOS at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (from mid-March to June 2020),
immediately followed by a six-month research and study phase with a host institution with
demonstrated expertise in the Fellow’s field of research (from July to December 2020).
To qualify, candidates must: be between the ages of 25 and 40, possess at least a first
university degree or equivalent, and demonstrate an ability to undertake advanced academic
research and studies. They must be from developing States, be mid-level Government officials or
mid-level professionals and dealing directly with ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea such as, but
not limited to, sustainable development of oceans and seas, including the implementation of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, national and/or regional ocean policy, establishment of
maritime zones and the delimitation of maritime boundaries, coastal zone management,
conservation and management of marine living resources, maritime transport and shipping,
maritime security, and the protection and preservation of the marine environment, including marine
science.
During the last fifteen years, 153 awards have been made under the United Nations-Nippon
Foundation Fellowship Programme. It is intended that 12 Fellowships will be offered in 2020.
Additional information on the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship
Programme is available on the Fellowship website: www.un.org/depts/los/nippon.
2. The United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Critical Needs Fellowship
The Critical Needs Fellowship, established in 2017 as one of three core activities under the
United Nations – Nippon Foundation Sustainable Ocean Programme, assists developing States,
particularly least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing
countries, to address identified critical needs in the implementation of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and related instruments, as well as Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 14 and other related SDGs. The Fellowship is targeted at Government
officials with limited background in ocean affairs and the law of the sea who are filling key positions
in their Administration and who are tasked to address the needs referred to above.
The Fellowship consists of a four-month highly customized training programme at
OLA/DOALOS at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Depending on the identified needs,
Fellows may, during the four-month training programme, undertake a learning placement with
either a Department of the United Nations Secretariat, a Specialized Agency, or an organization
affiliated with the United Nations or other relevant organization.
To qualify, candidates must: be between the ages of 25 and 40, possess at least a first
university degree or equivalent, and be Government officials dealing directly with critical issues
related to sustainable development of oceans and seas (e.g. the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development; national and/or regional ocean policy; the establishment of maritime
zones and/or the delimitation of maritime boundaries; coastal zone management; conservation and
management of marine living resources; maritime transport and shipping; maritime security; the
protection and preservation of the marine environment; and/or marine science).
It is intended that four awards under the Critical Needs Programme will be made for the
2020 session.
Additional information on the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Critical Needs
Fellowship is available on the Fellowship website: www.un.org/Depts/los/critical.
Each Fellowship website includes a detailed outline of the requisite qualifications, the
application package, and further details on each Fellowship Programme. Candidates must complete
the relevant application package and transmit these to OLA/DOALOS no later than 13 September
2019, at the following email address: doalos@un.org.
Applicants should ensure that they familiarize themselves with the eligibility requirements
and use the application form on the relevant website to apply for the Programme of their choice.
Awards will be made in November 2019 for the 2020 sessions of each Fellowship
Programme, and successful candidates will begin the Programmes in March/April 2020.
OLA/DOALOS would appreciate if this notification could be widely disseminated through
relevant networks to ensure a large and diverse pool of candidates from developing States.
Nominating authorities are strongly encouraged to consider nominating female candidates.
For more details: https://www.un.org/depts/los/nippon/
