Deadline: September 14, 2025

Applications are open for the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 2026. 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.


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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

  • Fellows are provided with a monthly stipend for the duration of the Fellowship. The Fellowship also covers travel and health insurance.

Eligibility

To qualify, candidates must:

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  • 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

Candidates must:


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For more information, see FAQ and visit UNNF.

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