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

Application Deadline: 22 March 2026.

Applications at the moment are open for the 2026 United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship. The Strategic Needs Fellowship goals to allow growing States, notably least developed international locations, small island growing States and landlocked growing international locations, to raised deal with strategically vital and time-sensitive points dealing with them in ocean affairs and the regulation of the ocean. Government officials from growing States with a restricted background in ocean affairs and the regulation of the ocean, who’re filling key positions of their Administration, are supplied with in-depth extremely custom-made coaching on ocean affairs and the regulation of the ocean, with a concentrate on these areas by which States have recognized crucial capability limitations.

Fellowship construction, curriculum and deliverables

The Fellowship consists of a four-month coaching programme on the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, on the United Nations Headquarters in New York. A extremely custom-made curriculum is developed by DOALOS for profitable candidates, primarily based on the strategic wants recognized of their purposes and supported by their Nominating Authorities, with a view to constructing the capability of Fellows to help their State in successfully addressing these wants.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominated candidates should meet all the next standards:

1. Be between the ages of 25 and 45;
2. Have efficiently accomplished a first-level college diploma;
3. Be Government officials from growing international locations dealing immediately with crucial points associated to the implementation of UNCLOS and associated devices, together with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; nationwide and/or regional ocean insurance policies; institution of maritime zones and the delimitation of maritime boundaries; coastal zone administration; conservation and administration of marine dwelling sources; maritime transport and delivery; maritime safety; the safety and preservation of the marine atmosphere; ocean and local weather change; and marine science;
4. Have robust command of oral and written English (observe: the actions of the Fellowship are delivered in English);
5. The recognized wants should immediately relate to the State’s formulation and/or implementation of ocean affairs and regulation of the ocean insurance policies and programmes;
6. Be freed from all non-Fellowship obligations throughout the whole Fellowship interval, until in any other case licensed by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs.

Benefits

Stipends

General

Fellows will obtain a month-to-month stipend throughout their Fellowship, each throughout 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, taking part within the 9-month programme, throughout their time on the second section host establishment. 

Travel

Fellows will likely be supplied with a round-trip financial system class airline ticket for journey between their home nation and New York to undertake the Fellowship.

Accommodation/Housing

Fellows are accountable for securing their lodging; within the case of the UNNF-OALOS Fellows finishing the 9-month Fellowship, that is legitimate for each placement areas. 

For More Information:

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