United Nations - Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 2027

The United Nations - Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNNF OALOS Fellowship) is offered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations (OLA/DOALOS) together with The Nippon Foundation. It provides mid-level Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing States with funded advanced training in ocean affairs and the law of the sea, or related disciplines including marine science.

The aim is for participants to acquire the knowledge and skills to support their States in implementing the legal framework set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and related instruments, and to develop and support comprehensive ocean management regimes, including within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Since 2004 the UNNF Capacity-Building Programmes have trained over 350 individuals; fourteen Fellowships will be offered for the 2027 session.

• Phase One: a three-month training phase with OLA/DOALOS at United Nations Headquarters in New York (24 March to 30 June 2027).
• 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 (1 July to 17 December 2027).

• Be between the ages of 25 and 45.
• Possess at least a first university degree or equivalent.
• Demonstrate ability to undertake advanced academic research and studies.
• Be from a developing State (nationals of developing countries, including India, are eligible).
• Be a mid-level government official or professional dealing directly with ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea, such as the implementation of UNCLOS, maritime zones and boundary delimitation, ocean policy, coastal zone management, marine environment protection, and marine sciences.
• Have a strong command of spoken and written English, as all training activities are delivered in English.

The Fellowship is fully funded. Fellows receive a monthly stipend calculated at established United Nations rates for each country, a book allowance of US$100 per month during Phase Two (US$600 in total), round-trip economy-class air travel between home country, New York and the Host Institution, and medical coverage through Cigna Health Insurance. Fellows are responsible for securing their own accommodation and for any visa-related costs.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Indico.UN platform. Applicants must create (or log in to) an Indico.UN account, download and complete the 2027 UNNF OALOS Application Form (Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme), and upload all required documents, including a signed nomination form and a copy of a valid national passport, before the deadline. Applications or documents submitted by email will not be accepted, and late or incomplete applications will not be considered. A list of Awardees and Reserves will be posted on the Fellowship website by mid-December 2026.