Applications are now open for the 2026 United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme
Opportunity Details
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 2026 session of the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation (UNNF) Fellowship Programme.
The objective of the UNNF Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea is to provide mid-level Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing States dealing directly with ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea with funded 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. The aim is for participants to acquire the necessary skills to support their States in the implementation of the legal framework set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and related instruments, while also enabling them to formulate comprehensive ocean management regimes, including within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Structure:
The UNNF Fellowship is structured as a 9-month Programme, divided into two phases:
- Phase One: A three-month training phase with OLA/DOALOS at United Nations Headquarters in New York (from approximately mid-March to June 2026).
- Phase Two: A six-month research stay at an academic Host Institution participating in the UNNF Programmes, selected for its expertise in the Fellow’s field of research (from July to December 2026).
Benefits of Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme
Fellows are provided with a monthly stipend for the duration of the Fellowship. The Fellowship also covers travel and health insurance.
Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme Requirements
To qualify, nominated candidates must meet all the following criteria:
- Must be between the ages of 25 and 45;
- Must have successfully completed a first-level university degree or equivalent;
- Demonstrate an ability to undertake advanced academic research and studies;
- Be from a developing State;
- Be a mid-level government official or mid-level professional dealing directly with ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea such as, but not limited to, the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG-14, including in relation to the establishment of maritime zones and the delimitation of maritime boundaries, sustainable development of oceans and seas, national and/or regional ocean policy, 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 marine sciences.
- Must be free of all non-Fellowship obligations during this entire period unless otherwise authorized by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs.
Application Date and Process
FORMS AND DOCUMENT REQUIRED
- 2026 UNNF Fellowship on OALOS Application FormWord document
- 2026 UNNF Fellowship on OALOS Nomination and Recommendation FormWord document
- Online Application Form
- A copy of the applicant's national passport biodata page
Reasonable accommodation may be provided, upon request, to applicants with disabilities to support their participation in the Fellowship Programme.
FELLOWSHIP CONDITIONS and other useful information are contained in their FAQ page
Application Deadline
14 September, 2025
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Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme
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