TEN FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH IN OCEAN AFFAIRS

TEN FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH IN OCEAN AFFAIRS

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NEW YORK, 21 October (DOALS) -- The Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme Selection Committee today announced the award of 10 Fellowships to professionals from developing coastal States to undertake advanced research and studies in Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea.

The Fellowship Programme is implemented by the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, in cooperation with the Technical Cooperation Management Services, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and with funding provided by the Nippon Foundation of Japan. The nine-month Fellowship Programme provides Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing coastal States an opportunity to undertake advanced research and studies in the field of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea or related disciplines, including marine sciences.

The Programme was established in response to calls from Member States of the United Nations for increased opportunities in capacity-building for their citizens so that these may obtain the necessary skills to assist their Governments in the formulation and implementation of comprehensive and sustainable ocean management regimes at all levels.

Under the Programme, each Fellowship is composed of two phases:  a nine-month academic phase, which is hosted by one of the 31 prestigious participating academic institutions; followed by a three-month practicum phase, hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea in New York.

This year’s Fellowships have been awarded to candidates from Chile, Georgia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, United Republic of Tanzania, and Thailand.  The successful candidates are expected to begin their first-phase placements early in 2006.

Last year, a total of 10 Fellowships were also awarded, to candidates from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Libya, Mauritius, Peru, Philippines, Saint Lucia, and Viet Nam.  These Fellows are currently undertaking various stages of their programmes, and hosted accordingly by either an academic host institution or by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea.  The first of these Fellows has completed her Programme last week.

Additional information regarding this Fellowship Programme may be obtained from the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, or by visiting the Programme website on www.un.org/depts/los/nippon

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For information media • not an official record