United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea

The United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship provides government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing states with advanced training on ocean affairs, the law of the sea, and related disciplines, including marine science in support of management frameworks.

📖 About the Fellowship

The Fellowship offers participants the opportunity to:

• Gain advanced training on international legal frameworks, key issues, and best practices in ocean affairs.
• Become familiar with the work of the United Nations.
• Develop professional skills.
• Conduct individual research under academic supervision and produce a written thesis on a selected topic.

Upon completion, Fellows are expected to return to their home countries to:

• Assist in formulating comprehensive ocean policy.
• Implement the legal regime set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments.
• Design, implement, and evaluate specific improvement projects.

Fellowship Structure

The 9-month Fellowship Programme is divided into two phases:

1. Phase One:

   • Duration: 3 months (March/April to June).
   • Location: DOALOS at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
   • Focus on research and training.

2. Phase Two:

   • Duration: 6 months (July to December).
   • Location: Prestigious participating host institutions.
   • Fellows conduct advanced academic research and study under the guidance of subject matter experts.

Deliverables

Fellows are required to complete:

• A 100-page written thesis.
• A presentation of their research.
• An ocean governance matrix.
• Additional assignments as part of the training curriculum during Phase One.

🎁 Benefits

• Monthly Stipend:
  • Covers lodging, board, and other essentials such as local transport.
  • Paid from the date of departure from the home country until the completion of the Fellowship, including up to two days of travel time.
  • Stipend is paid in the local currency of the host country.
  • Note: The stipend is not a salary or honorarium and does not cover continuing expenses at home for Fellows or their families.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Fellowship, applicants must:

• Be between the ages of 25 and 45.
• Have successfully completed a first university degree and demonstrate the capacity for independent advanced academic research and study.
• Be a mid-level professional from a national government organ of a developing state or a governmental/non-governmental agency in such a state that deals directly with ocean affairs issues.
• Have a professional position that allows them to assist their nation in the formulation and/or implementation of ocean affairs and law of the sea policies.
• Submit a Nomination and Recommendation Form completed by a government official or other official who can attest to the applicant's work and its relevance to the government’s ocean affairs activities.
• Propose a research and study programme that contributes directly to their nation’s ocean affairs and law of the sea policies.
• Be free of all non-Fellowship obligations during the Fellowship period unless otherwise authorized by the Division.

📝 Application Process

The application package consists of three documents and an online form:

1. Personal History and Proposed Research Application Form:
   • Must be signed by the applicant.
2. Nomination and Recommendation Form:
   • Must be signed by the official nominating entity.
   • Forms can be submitted in Word or PDF format.
3. A copy of the applicant's national passport biodata page.
4. The online form.

Submission

Once the forms are completed and signed, email them to doalos@un.org along with a copy of the passport biodata page before the deadline.

Apply Here

📅 Key Dates

• Date Published: July 7, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 14, 2025

🌐 Additional Information

For more details, visit the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship Portal.

Apply directly via the Application Form.

For inquiries, contact: doalos@un.org

• 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.