United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship 2026 for Government Officials (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the 2026 United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship, a fully funded capacity-building programme for government officials and mid-level professionals from developing countries.

The fellowship is designed to support least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing States (SIDS), and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) in addressing urgent and strategically important challenges related to ocean affairs and the law of the sea.

Through highly customised training, the programme strengthens national capacity to formulate, implement, and manage policies related to maritime governance, sustainable ocean use, and international legal frameworks.

Fellowship Structure and Training

The Strategic Needs Fellowship is a four-month, in-person programme hosted at the:

• Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS)
• Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations Secretariat
• United Nations Headquarters, New York

Each fellow receives a tailor-made curriculum developed by DOALOS based on:

• Strategic capacity gaps identified in the application
• Endorsement and support from the applicant’s nominating authority
• National priorities related to ocean governance and maritime law

The training equips fellows with practical expertise to support their governments in addressing time-sensitive ocean and maritime challenges.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be between 25 and 45 years old
• Hold a first-level university degree
• Be a government official from a developing country
• Be directly involved in issues related to:
  • UNCLOS and related international instruments
  • National or regional ocean policies
  • Maritime zones and boundary delimitation
  • Coastal zone management
  • Marine living resources conservation
  • Maritime transport and shipping
  • Maritime security
  • Marine environmental protection
  • Ocean and climate change
  • Marine science
• Demonstrate a strong command of written and spoken English
• Show that the identified strategic needs are directly linked to national policy formulation or implementation
• Be available full-time for the entire fellowship period, unless otherwise authorised by DOALOS

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AU Digital & Innovation Fellowship Program 2026 for African Youth Innovators (€2,500 Monthly Stipend)

Fellowship Benefits

Successful fellows will receive:

• Monthly stipend for the duration of the fellowship
• Round-trip economy class airfare between the home country and New York
• Full access to UN facilities and expert-led training at UN Headquarters

Note: Fellows are responsible for arranging their own accommodation in New York.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship 2026 for Government Officials is 22 March 2026.

For More Information

Visit the official United Nations – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship webpage for full details and application guidelines.