United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Call for applications for the 2026 session of the Programme
The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations (“OLA/DOALOS”) is now accepting applications for the 2026 session of the United Nations – The Nippon Foundation (UNNF) Fellowship Programme.
Objectives:
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.
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).
For more information :
