division for ocean affairs and law of the sea now accepting applications

for 2010/11 session of Un-nippon foundation of japan fellowships

The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs is now accepting applications for the 2010-2011 session of the United Nations–Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme.  We are pleased to note that during the last five years, 55 awards have been made to nationals of 48 States.  The deadline for submissions has been set for 15 August 2009.

The major objective of this Fellowship Programme is to provide funded opportunities for advanced training in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea, or related disciplines, to Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing coastal States so that they may obtain the necessary skills to assist their countries in the formulation of comprehensive ocean policies and to implement the legal regime set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments.

The Fellowship Programme consists of two phases, namely a six-month research and study phase, immediately followed by a three-month training phase.  The first phase will be implemented through a university or research institution affiliated with the Programme which has in-depth competence and expertise in the given field of studies.  After completing the first phase, fellows will undertake a training phase with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea in New York, or with an intergovernmental agency or organization competent in the chosen field.

With respect to required qualifications, candidates must be between the ages of 25 and 40, possess a first university degree or equivalent, and demonstrate an ability to undertake advanced academic research and studies.  They shall also be mid-level administrators from national Government organs, or other agencies, that deal directly with issues such as national ocean policy, establishment of maritime zones and the delimitation of maritime boundaries, coastal-zone management, conservation and management of marine living resources, maritime transport and shipping, prevention of pollution, crimes at sea and their suppression, and the protection and preservation of the marine environment, including marine sciences.

A detailed outline of the requisite qualifications, along with the application forms, additional Programme information, and the current list of participating institutions, is available on the Fellowship Programme webpage (http://www.un.org/depts/los/nippon).  Candidates must use the new simplified application package which is available for download from this homepage.

For additional information please contact directly:  Francois N. Bailet, Programme Adviser, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs (DC2-0414), United Nations, New York, NY, 10017, USA; tel.:  +1‑917‑367-5186; Fax:  +1-212-963-5847; e-mail:  bailet@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record