Deadline: 7 January 2011
Open to: Post-graduate researchers holding either an M.A. or M.Sc. degree under 40 years old
Fellowship: between US$6,000 to US$10,000
UNESCO designed the project “UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme” (UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme) in the framework of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Capacity-Building of Human Resources which was established in November 2000 by the Government of Japan to enable UNESCO to give impetus to research in four areas under UNESCO’s Priority Programme Areas.
The main objective is to impact on capacity-building and research activities in the following areas:
1. Environment (with particular attention to Water Sciences);
2. Intercultural Dialogue;
3. Information and Communication Technologies; and
4. Peaceful conflict resolution. No other research topics will be considered
The fellowship shall be 3 months minimum and 9 months maximum.
Eligibility
Applicants, a maximum of TWO from each applying National Commission, must meet the following general criteria:
1. Post-graduate researchers, already holding either an M.A. or M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) and wishing to pursue research work abroad (preferably in their own region) with a view to enhancing knowledge in one of the four specific fields mentioned above.
2. Candidates must be persons of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make significant contributions to their country on return.
3. Candidates must be no more than 40 years of age. Thus, applicants born before 1 January 1971 will not be considered under the Programme.
4. The selected Fellow must carry out the research under the auspices of an academic supervisor in a host institution. Confirmation of acceptance from the academic supervisor is imperative.
5. Priority attention will be given to:
* Women
* Candidates from least deveolped countries (LDCs)
* Palestinian researchers
6. Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing the language of instruction in the proposed country of study/research.
Application
All applications must be submitted with the required documentation on the UNESCO Fellowship Application Form. Each Member State may nominate candidates a maximum of two (2). It is the National Commission’s responsibility to select the two candidates whose applications it wishes to submit to UNESCO.
The application must include the following attachments:
i) The UNESCO Fellowship application form duly completed in duplicate. Two recent photographs (obligatory) should be included with the form.
ii) Certified copies of degrees or diplomas (including transcript of grades) in duplicate. Proof of having obtained a Master’s Degree must be included.
iii) A letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the candidate’s work.
iv) A host institute’s letter of acceptance (i.e. the institute that has accepted the candidate for work should she/he be selected for a Fellowship). This letter of acceptance must indicate that the host institute confirms its willingness to provide the relevant research facilities required by the candidate in the chosen field of specialization.
v) The certificate of language proficiency (on the UNESCO form) duly completed in duplicate for the language of the country of study (should this be different from the candidate’s mother tongue) issued by an official authority.
vi) A detailed description, one to two page(s) (maximum), in either English or French, of the research work for which the candidature is being put forward
vii) A detailed budget estimate indicating the resources required for the candidate to undertake the proposed research
Fellowship
The Fellowships financed by Japan and administered by UNESCO will consist of the following:
• A maximum amount between US$6,000 to US$10,000 will be awarded to selected candidates. The amount, to be paid in two or three instalments, is intended to cover research costs only, and will not be negotiable.
• No other costs will be considered and grants will be neither extended nor renewed.
