Deadline: September 13, 2026
Applications are open for the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 2027. The United Nations – Nippon Foundation Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea Fellowship (OALOS) provides Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing States with advanced training on ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as related disciplines, including marine science in support of management frameworks.
Fellows will learn about international legal frameworks, key issues and best practices in ocean affairs, become familiar with the work of the United Nations, and develop professional skills. Fellows will also conduct individual research, under academic supervision, and develop a written thesis on a topic selected by them.
Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows are expected to return to their home countries and use their in-depth knowledge and extended experience to assist in formulating comprehensive ocean policy and in implementing the legal regime set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments, including through designing, implementing and/or evaluating specific improvement projects.
Programme Phases
The UNNF OALOS Fellowship is a nine-month programme consisting of two phases:
- Phase One: A three-month training programme at OLA/DOALOS, United Nations Headquarters, New York (24 March to 30 June 2027).
- Phase Two: A six-month research placement at an academic Host Institution participating in the UNNF Programmes, selected based on its expertise in the Fellow’s research area (1 July to 17 December 2027).
Benefits
- Fellows will receive a monthly stipend during their Fellowship, both during 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, participating in the 9-month programme, during their time at the second phase host institution.
- Fellows will be provided with a round-trip economy class airline ticket for travel between their home country and New York to undertake the Fellowship.
- Selected Fellows must be medically cleared by the United Nations Medical Service and their award is contingent on such clearance.
Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be between 25 and 45 years of age.
- Hold at least a first university degree or an equivalent qualification.
- Demonstrate the ability to undertake advanced academic research and study.
- Be a national of a developing State.
- Be a mid-level government official or mid-level professional working directly on ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea, including but not limited to:
- Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments;
- Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 14;
- Maritime zones and maritime boundary delimitation;
- National and regional ocean policy;
- Coastal zone management;
- Conservation and sustainable management of marine living resources;
- Maritime transport and shipping;
- Maritime security;
- Protection and preservation of the marine environment; and
- Marine science and related fields.
- Have a strong command of spoken and written English. All Fellowship activities are conducted in English and require in-person participation. Training materials in French and Spanish are available upon request, subject to availability. The research project may be undertaken in English or French, provided that the Host Institution is able to offer supervision in the chosen language.
Application
Before completing the Indico.UN online Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme Application Form, applicants must:
- Download, complete and sign the 2027 UNNF OALOS Application Form – Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme. Fill in all the fields electronically and apply your electronic or handwritten signature and use the “Save” option to save your changes.
- Each question must be answered clearly and completely in order to ensure that the application will be processed. While completing the form, candidates should pay particular attention to sections 16, 17 and 18.
- Complete the 2027 UNNF OALOS Fellowship Nomination Form, signed and stamped by the nominating authority.
- Kindly upload the completed documents in either Word or PDF format.
- Have a copy of your valid national passport ready for upload.
- All three documents should be uploaded in the Indico.UN Platform.
For more information, visit UNNF OALOS Fellowship.
