2027 United Nations–Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNNF OALOS Fellowship) Fellowship NEW

The Call for ApplicationsPDF is now open for the 2027 United Nations–Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNNF OALOS Fellowship). Award results will be released by mid-December 2026. The Call is also available in FrenchPDF and SpanishPDF.

About the Fellowship

The fellowship aims to strengthen the capacity of government officials and professionals working on ocean affairs by providing advanced training in international ocean governance and the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Participants will gain practical knowledge of international legal frameworks, undertake supervised academic research, and develop policy recommendations that can support sustainable ocean management in their home countries.

Areas of Focus

Applicants may undertake research and training in areas including:

• Ocean governance and marine policy
• Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
• Sustainable Blue Economy
• Marine biodiversity conservation
• Marine protected areas
• Maritime boundary delimitation
• Coastal zone management
• Marine environmental protection
• Maritime transport and shipping
• Maritime security
• Marine science
• Implementation of SDG 14 (Life Below Water)
• Ocean-related climate change adaptation and policy
• National and regional ocean governance frameworks

Eligibility Requirements

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.

Programme Structure

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).