UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2015

Deadline: December 26, 2014

Applications are now invited for the 2015 UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme. The aim of the fellowships is to support innovative and imaginative post-graduate research in four areas of development of particular interest to UNESCO. Reinforcing its belief in “people building the next era”, the Government of Japan offers 20 fellowships per year, for the twelfth consecutive year, to be awarded to deserving candidates from developing countries, especially the least developed countries (LDCs), who are eager to undertake research on one or more of the topics listed below.

Topics

The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme (UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme) funded under the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the capacity-building of Human Resources will aim, in particular, to impact on capacity-building and research activities in the following areas:

• Environment (with particular emphasis on water sciences);
• Intercultural Dialogue;
• Information and Communication Technologies; and
• Peaceful conflict resolution.

No other research topics will be considered.

Eligibility

Applicants, a maximum of TWO from each applying National Commission, must meet the following general criteria:

1.  Candidates under this Programme must be post-graduate researchers, already holding either an M.A. or M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) and wishing to pursue research work abroad (preferably in their own region) with a view to enhancing knowledge in one of the four specific fields mentioned in paragraph D.1 below. Thus, those who are in the process of completing their Master’s degree must have completed it PRIOR to taking up their Fellowship.
2. Candidates must be persons of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make significant contributions to their country on return.
3. Candidates must be no more than 40 years of age. Thus, applicants born before 1 January 1975 will not be considered under the Programme.
4. The selected Fellow must carry out the research under the auspices of an academic supervisor in a host institution. Confirmation of acceptance from the academic supervisor is imperative.
5. Priority attention will be given to: * Women candidatures  * Candidates from least developed countries (LDCs)  * African researchers
6. Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing the language of instruction in the proposed country of study/research.

For more information, visit UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships.