United Nations Nippon Foundation (UNNF) Strategic Needs Fellowship 2026 (Funded) – YOA

Deadline: March 22, 2026

Applications are open for the United Nations Nippon Foundation (UNNF) Strategic Needs Fellowship 2026. The Strategic Needs Fellowship goals to allow creating States, significantly least developed international locations, small island creating States and landlocked creating international locations, to higher deal with strategically vital and time-delicate points going through them in ocean affairs and the legislation of the ocean.

Government officers from creating States with a restricted background in ocean affairs and the legislation of the ocean, who’re filling key positions of their Administration, are supplied with in-depth extremely personalized coaching on ocean affairs and the legislation of the ocean, with a give attention to these areas wherein States have recognized important capability limitations.

Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows are anticipated to return to their positions and use their coaching on worldwide authorized frameworks, key points and greatest practices in ocean affairs, the work of the United Nations, {and professional} abilities, to help their States within the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and associated devices, in addition to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and different associated SDGs.

Benefits

• 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 part host establishment.
• Fellows will likely be supplied with a spherical-journey financial system class airline ticket for journey between their home nation and New York to undertake the Fellowship.
• Selected Fellows should be medically cleared by the United Nations Medical Service and their award is contingent on such clearance.
• The Fellow is chargeable for all prices associated to acquiring the required visa(s). These prices will be lined from the primary month’s greater stipend charge, which will likely be supplied upon arrival in New York. The United Nations is not going to cowl or reimburse any visa-associated bills.
• For the interval of the Fellowship, medical protection is supplied by Cigna Health Insurance. Cigna presents 100% medical protection for normal medical and hospital therapies as much as a sure restrict. Specialized providers are usually not lined. Fellows are chargeable for paying medical charges once they go to a physician and should search reimbursement later by submitting a declare to Cigna.
• Fellows are chargeable for securing their lodging; within the case of the UNNF-OALOS Fellows finishing the 9-month Fellowship, that is legitimate for each placement areas. In sure instances, some UNNF-OALOS Fellows could possibly make the suitable preparations by way of their host establishments. Nonetheless, all such preparations are the only duty of the Fellows. The United Nations, in addition to the Host Institutions, is not going to act on behalf of the Fellows, function guarantors, or settle for any liabilities or tasks on this regard.

Eligibility

• Be between the ages of 25 and 45;
• Have efficiently accomplished a primary-stage college diploma;
• Be Government officers from creating international locations dealing straight with important 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 surroundings; ocean and local weather change; and marine science;
• Have sturdy command of oral and written English (observe: the actions of the Fellowship are delivered in English);
• The recognized wants should straight relate to the State’s formulation and/or implementation of ocean affairs and legislation of the ocean insurance policies and programmes;
• Be freed from all non-Fellowship obligations in the course of the total Fellowship interval, until in any other case approved by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs.

Application

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to UNNF Fellowship.