USA: UN-Nippon Fellowship Program 2007-2008

The United Nations - The Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme ~ Human Resources Development and Advancement of the Legal Order of the World's Oceans ~

Fellowship Background and Overview

On 22 April 2004, the United Nations and
The Nippon Foundation of Japan concluded a trust fund project agreement to provide capacity-building and human resource development to developing coastal States Parties and non-Parties to UNCLOS through a new Fellowship Programme. The Programme is jointly executed by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the
Office of Legal Affairs and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

DOALOS serves as the focal point in charge of all substantive elements of the Project. DESA, in its capacity as implementing agency for the Project, is responsible for providing certain administrative services to the Project on behalf of DOALOS.

The main objective of the fellowship is to provide opportunities for advanced education and training in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea, and related disciplines including marine science, to Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing coastal States, so that they may obtain the necessary knowledge to assist their countries to formulate comprehensive ocean
policy and to implement the legal regime set out in UNCLOS and related instruments.

Upon completion of the fellowship, fellows should have an advanced awareness and understanding of key issues and best international practices in ocean affairs and are expected to return to their home-countries to contribute their experience to assist with the effective implementation of UNCLOS and related instruments and
programmes. Fellows should be able to design, implement and/or evaluate specific improvement projects in their home countries related to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, develop a core leadership capacity and have an in-depth understanding of legal frameworks, methodologies and tools to further improve implementation of instruments and programmes and to provide for their effective enforcement in conformity with international law.

Fellowship Programme Structure

The 9-month Fellowship Programme is composed of two consecutive phases which provide Fellows with advanced and customized research and training opportunities in their chose fields:

Phase One: 6-month Advanced Academic Research and Study - undertaken at one of the prestigious participating Host Institutions and under the guidance of subject matter expert(s) who have recognized in-depth expertise in the Fellows' chosen field of study.

Phase Two: 3-month Research and Training - normally undertaken at DOALOS at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

[] Qualifications

Candidates wishing to be considered for a Fellowship award must ensure that they meet all the following criteria:

- You must be between the ages of 25 and 35;

- You must have successfully completed a first university degree, and demonstrate a capacity to undertake independent advanced academic research and study;

- You must be a mid-level administrator from a national government organ of a developing coastal State, or another government related agency in such a State, which deals directly with ocean affairs issues, and your professional position must allow you to directly assist your nation in the formulation and/or implementation of policy in this area. Your "Nomination and Recommendation Form" should be completed by a Government official who can attest to the nature of your work with respect to the Government's ocean affairs and law of the sea related activities, and indicate how an Award would directly contribute to these activities; and

- Your proposed research and study programme must contribute directly to your nation's formulation and/or implementation of ocean affairs and law of the sea policies and programmes.

Satisfaction of the above criteria must be clearly demonstrated by the candidate through the application forms and confirmed by a nominating authority.

[]
Application

The Fellowship application package consists of the following three forms:

1.The Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme Form (click to
download in MS Word Format)

This Form must be completed by the candidate, either typewritten or word processed. Each question must be answered clearly and completely in order to ensure that the application will be processed. While completing this form, candidates should pay particular attention to sections 18, 19 and 20. If necessary, candidates may attach no more than one additional page of the same size. Candidates should refer to the list of participating
host institutions while completing sections 21 and 23.

--> Once this form is completed, it must be submitted by the candidate to the Nominating Authority along with:


2. The Nomination and Recommendation Form (click to download in MS Word Format)

This form must be completed and signed by a responsible official of the nominating Government.

--> Once completed, the Nominating Authority must forward directly to DOALOS both the "Nomination and Recommendation Form" and the completed "Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme Form".


3.United Nations Medical Clearance:
The UN Medical Form (click to download in Adobe PDF format)


Fellows must be "medically cleared" by the United Nations Medical Service before their award is processed. It is thus very important that all applicants ensure that the UN Medical Form is duly completed by a physician and submitted, including the required supporting documentation, to DOALOS by the deadline. The UN Medical Form must be completed by a physician no more than four (4) months prior to the

Avoid delays in your award by ensuring that your Medical Forms are complete and all supporting documents are submitted with your application. effective date of the award, and all costs related to the medical examinations are to be borne by the candidates.

Note that the results of the laboratory tests preformed under the "Laboratory" section of this form must not only be entered in the form, but the original laboratory results (reports) must also be submitted with the form, along with the X-ray film. Incomplete UN Medical Forms, including the omission of original laboratory results and x-rays, will cause delays in the processing of your application and may result in disqualification.

--> Candidates must forward directly to DOALOS their completed UN Medical Form, along with the original laboratory reports and x-ray film.

[]Application

Step 1: Candidate to complete "Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme Form" and forward it to Nominating Authority along with the "Nomination and Recommendation Form."

Step 2: Nominating Authority to complete "Nomination and Recommendation Form" and forward it, along with completed "Personal History and Proposed Research/Study Programme Form," to DOALOS (preferably through the State's Mission to the United Nations in New York).

In parallel to Step 1 and 2: Candidate to have physician complete UN Medical Form and forward directly to DOALOS with requisite enclosures..

[]
Deadline
[] Complete applications must be received by DOALOS not later than [14 July 2006]. DOALOS reserves the right not to process incomplete and/or late submissions.

Advanced copies of applications may be faxed to DOALOS, however, in order for applications to be considered complete, all originals and attachments must received by DOALOS by [14 July 2006]. Applications should be sent to:

The United Nations - The Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship
Programme Advisor
Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Office of Legal Affairs
United Nations
Room DC2-0450
New York, N.Y. 10017
U.S.A.
Fax: +1-212-963-5847


[] Awards

The decision to Award a Fellowship is made by the Fellowship Selection Committee, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Technical Cooperation Agreement which establishes the Fellowship Programme, and guided by the "Fellowship Selection Criteria" applied by the United Nations System Organizations. 10 fellowships will be
awarded per annum, and successful candidates will be notified by DOALOS. The results will also be posted on the Fellowship website.

Please note that Awards are conditional on the fulfilment of all Fellowship requirements including, inter alia, obtaining United Nations Medical Clearance, Host Institution Placement Confirmation, and the Necessary Visa(s).