United Nations-Nippon Foundation Fellowship

The United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship provides Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing States with advanced training on ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as related disciplines, including marine science in support of management frameworks. Fellows will learn about international legal frameworks, key issues and best practices in ocean affairs, become familiar with the work of the United Nations, and develop professional skills. Fellows will also conduct individual research, under academic supervision, and develop a written thesis on a topic selected by them.

Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows are expected to return to their home countries and use their in-depth knowledge and extended experience to assist in formulating comprehensive ocean policy and in implementing the legal regime set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments, including through designing, implementing and/or evaluating specific improvement projects.

Objectives

• The objective of the UNNF Fellowship 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.

Fellowship Structure, Curriculum and Deliverables

• 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: 3-month Research and Training, which is normally undertaken between March/April and June at DOALOS at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
  • Phase Two: 6-month Advanced Academic Research and Study, which is normally undertaken between July and December 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.
• The deliverables of the Fellowship Programme are:
  • A 100-page written thesis
  • A presentation of the research
  • An ocean governance matrix

Fellowship Offers

• Stipend and book allowance
  • General
    • Fellows will receive a stipend each month during their Fellowship, both during their time in New York and, for United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellows participating in the 9-month programme, during their time at the second phase host institution. The stipend is paid from the date a Fellow departs from their home country, and ends on the date of completion of the Fellowship, including a maximum travel time of up to two days by the most direct air route, in accordance with United Nations travel rules.
    • The stipend paid to Fellows while outside their home country is a monthly allowance intended to cover the cost of lodging, board and other essentials such as local transport. The stipend is normally payable in the local currency of the host country. The stipend is not a salary or honorarium and is not intended to cover the Fellows’ continuing expenses at home for either themselves or their families.
    • Fellows will be provided with a return economy class air-ticket to travel from their home country to complete the Fellowship.
  • Amount
    • The amount of the stipend is determined in accordance with the established United Nations rates for each country. These rates are updated regularly and available on this website.
    • For the first month of the Fellowship, and for the first month of the second phase if applicable, Fellows will receive their stipend at the “Max Trav” rate. For all other months, Fellows will receive their stipend at the non-academic “Max Res” rate.
    • For United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellows completing the 9-month Fellowship, the stipend rates for the second part of the Fellowship will vary according to the country in which the Host Institution is located.
  • Book allowance
    • In addition to the stipend, the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellows (the 9-month Programme) will be provided with a Book Allowance of US$100 per month for the phase two of the Fellowship ($600 altogether). This allowance will be transferred to the Fellow either as a lump-sum payment, or on a monthly basis with each stipend payment.

Eligibility Criteria

• To qualify, candidates must:
  • Be between the ages of 25 and 40.
  • Possess at least a first 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 UNCLOS 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.

For more information, visit United Nations.