UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme

Deadline: 26 December 2014
Open to: post-graduate researchers no more than 40 years old from developing countries
Fellowship: US $6,000 to $10,000

Description

The Government of Japan offers 20 fellowships per year to be awarded to deserving candidates from developing countries, especially the least developed countries (LDCs), who are eager to undertake research on one or more of the topics listed below. The aim of the fellowships is to support innovative and imaginative post-graduate research in four areas of development of particular interest to UNESCO:

1. Environment (with particular emphasis on Water Sciences);
2. Intercultural Dialogue;
3. Information and Communication Technologies;
4. Peaceful conflict resolution.

The research should last 3 to 9 months in one or two countries abroad, starting anytime from April 2015 onward.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following general criteria:

• Candidates under this Programme must be 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.
• Candidates must be persons of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make significant contributions to their country on return.
• Candidates must be no more than 40 years of age. Thus, applicants born before 1 January 1975 will not be considered under the Programme.
• 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.
• Priority attention will be given to: women candidatures, candidates from least developed countries (LDCs), African researchers.

Fellowship

The Fellowships of 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 installments, 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.

Application

Closing date for receipt of applications is 26 December 2014.

Each Member State may nominate a maximum of two (2) candidates. All applications must be channelled through the National Commission for UNESCO of the candidate’s country and should be addressed to the Director-General. You must first SEE THE LIST HERE to find your country’s National Commission contact information and contact them before applying.

The application must include the following attachments:

1.  The UNESCO Fellowship application form duly completed in duplicate.
2. Certified copies of degrees or diplomas (including transcript of grades) in duplicate. Proof of having obtained a Master’s Degree must be included.
3. A letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the candidate’s work.
4. A host institute’s letter of acceptance
5. The certificate of language proficiency (on the UNESCO form) duly completed in duplicate for the language of the country of study
6. 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.

For more information, please review the official call HERE and see the official website HERE.