Are you a mid-level professional from a developing country working in ocean governance, marine science, or maritime law? Here’s your chance to gain world-class training and global exposure through the prestigious United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNNF Fellowship). Applications for the 2026 session are now officially open!
What Is the UNNF Fellowship?
This 9-month, fully funded international fellowship is designed for mid-career government officials and professionals from developing countries. The program empowers fellows with advanced training in ocean affairs, maritime governance, international law of the sea, and marine science, preparing them to shape national and regional ocean policies based on international legal frameworks.
Upon completion, Fellows return to their home countries with the expertise to design, implement, and evaluate robust ocean governance frameworks and fulfill obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
What’s Covered with Nippon Fellowship?
Fellowship benefits include:
- Full travel costs
- Stipend for living expenses
- Accommodation support
- Medical insurance
- Visa support for both fellowship phases
Nippon Fellowship Structure
The Fellowship is delivered in two (02) structured phases:
- Phase One (3 months): Intensive training at the UN Headquarters in New York hosted by DOALOS (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea).
- Phase Two (6 months): Advanced academic research at a selected host university under the guidance of subject matter experts.
Final Deliverables
- A 100-page research thesis
- A formal presentation
- An ocean governance matrix
- Several coursework assignments during the New York phase.
Who Is Eligible?
To apply, you must:
- Be 25–45 years old
- Hold a first-level university degree
- Demonstrate the ability to undertake advanced academic research
- Be a mid-level professional working in a relevant governmental or non-governmental organization dealing directly with ocean affairs or law of the sea
- Commit to full-time participation for the full 9-month duration
- Be from a developing State
Professionals in fields such as:
- Coastal zone management
- Marine science & conservation
- Maritime boundary delimitation
- Marine environmental protection
- Ocean policy design
- Maritime security are highly encouraged to apply.
Women and applicants with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Gender parity and geographic diversity are core values of the Fellowship.
Apply: https://www.un.org/oceancapacity/content/apply-now
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the UN – Nippon Foundation Fellowship 2026 is 14 September 2025. Results will be announced in December 2025.