The United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship 2026 for Government officials and mid-level professionals. (Fully Funded)

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Application Deadline: 22 March 2026.

Applications are now open for the 2026 United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship. The Strategic Needs Fellowship aims to enable developing States, particularly least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, to better address strategically important and time-sensitive issues facing them in ocean affairs and the law of the sea. Government officials from developing States with a limited background in ocean affairs and the law of the sea, who are filling key positions in their Administration, are provided with in-depth highly customized training on ocean affairs and the law of the sea, with a focus on those areas in which States have identified critical capacity barriers.

Fellowship structure, curriculum and deliverables

The Fellowship consists of a four-month training programme at the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. A highly customized curriculum is developed by DOALOS for successful candidates, based on the strategic needs identified in their applications and supported by their Nominating Authorities, with a view to building the capacity of Fellows to assist their State in effectively addressing those needs.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominated candidates must meet all the following criteria:

1. Be between the ages of 25 and 45;
2. Have successfully completed a first-level university degree;
3. Be Government officials from developing countries dealing directly with critical issues related to the implementation of UNCLOS and related instruments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; national and/or regional ocean policies; 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; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; ocean and climate change; and marine science;
4. Have strong command of oral and written English (note: the activities of the Fellowship are delivered in English);
5. The identified needs must directly relate to the State’s formulation and/or implementation of ocean affairs and law of the sea policies and programmes;
6. Be free of all non-Fellowship obligations during the entire Fellowship period, unless otherwise authorized by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs.

Benefits

Stipends

General

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend during their Fellowship, both during their time in New York and, for the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNNF-OALOS) Fellows, participating in the 9-month programme, during their time at the second phase host institution.

Travel

Fellows will be provided with a round-trip economy class airline ticket for travel between their home country and New York to undertake the Fellowship.

Accommodation/Housing

Fellows are responsible for securing their accommodations; in the case of the UNNF-OALOS Fellows completing the 9-month Fellowship, this is valid for both placement locations.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship