UNESCO-Japan Research Fellowships for Developing Countries

Brief description:

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With a view to keeping alive and honouring the spirit of former Prime Minister Obuchi and his belief in “people building the next era”, 20 fellowships per year, for the ninth year, will be awarded to deserving candidates from UNESCO 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 the areas of development to which former Prime Minister Obuchi was committed and which coincide with areas of particular interest to UNESCO.

The possible date of commencing research is anytime from September 2010 until December 2011.

Field of study:

The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme funded under a Japan Funds-in-Trust project will aim, in particular, to impact on capacity-building and research activities in the following areas which were of particular importance to Mr Keizo Obuchi:

1. Environment (with particular attention to Water Sciences);
2. Inter-cultural Dialogue;
3. Information and Communication Technologies; and
4. Peaceful conflict resolution. No other research topics will be considered.

A list of Suggested Sub-themes for research is provided in the announcement letter (see link below).

Number of Awards:

20 scholarships annually.

Target group:

The fellowships are targeted to women, candidates from least developed countries (LDCs) and Palestinian researchers.

Scholarship value/inclusions:

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 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.

Eligibility:

Applicants, a maximum of TWO from each applying National Commission, must meet the following general criteria:

1. 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 in paragraph D.1 below. Thus, those who are in the process of completing their Master’s degree must have completed it PRIOR to taking up their Fellowship.

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 1970 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 developed countries (LDCs) and Palestinian researchers.

6. Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing the language of instruction in the proposed country of study/research.

7. Applicants must be in good health, both physically and mentally.

NOTE: Please refer to the 2010 announcement (see link below) for the list of eligible countries/invited member states who are eligible for this fellowship offer.

Selection Criteria:

Applications will be judged on the basis of the merit of each application and its pertinence to the UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowship Programme.

Application instructions:

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(s) should reach the Fellowships Programme Section (see contact details below) before 7 January 2011 midnight and an advance copy may be sent by fax to: 33.1.45.68.55.03.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Contact information:

Fellowships Programme Section,
UNESCO,
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=14635&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

UNESCO/Japan Research Fellowship 2011 Announcement