Application Deadline: December 26 2014

The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme (UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme) funded under the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the capacity-building of Human Resources will aim, in particular, to impact on capacity-building and research activities in the following areas:

• Environment (with particular emphasis on water sciences);
• Intercultural Dialogue;
• Information and Communication Technologies; and
• Peaceful conflict resolution.

Facilities offered by Japan/UNESCO

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.

Eligibility and Conditions for Applications

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 1975 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 candidatures  * Candidates from least developed countries (LDCs)  * African researchers
6. Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing the language of instruction in the proposed country of study/research.

Invited Countries to submit Candidatures

* Least Developed Country

AFRICA

•Angola* •Benin* •Botswana •Burkina Faso* •Burundi* •Cameroon •Cape Verde •Central African Republic* •Chad* •Comoros* •Congo •Côte d’Ivoire •Democratic Republic of the Congo* •Djibouti* •Equatorial Guinea* •Eritrea* •Ethiopia* •Gabon •Gambia* •Ghana •Guinea* •Guinea-Bissau* •Kenya •Lesotho* •Liberia* •Madagascar* •Malawi* •Mali* •Mauritius •Mozambique* •Namibia •Niger* •Nigeria •Rwanda* •Sao Tome and Principe* •Senegal* •Sierra Leone* •Somalia* •South Africa •Swaziland •Togo* •Uganda* •United Republic of Tanzania* •Zambia* •Zimbabdwe

CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION

Domains of research:
» Environment (with particular emphasis on Water Sciences, Water Issues, Climate Change, Engineering Capacity Building in the Developing World)
» Intercultural Dialogue
» Information and Communication Technologies
» Peaceful Conflicts Resolution

Duration of proposed research:

minimum: 3 months
maximum: 9 months

Closing date for receipt of applications: 26 December 2014

Possible date of commencing research: Any time from April 2015 onwards

Deadline for termination of research: end of January 2017

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. The research proposal should cover the following points:

• Why? The concrete nature of the proposed project’s contribution to the fields listed in paragraph D.1 above; its innovative, original aspects; and the scope and purpose of the research project. The candidate should demonstrate the reasons the theoretical and practical knowledge or training acquired at the host institution would be beneficial to her/his on-going research project.

• What? The expected results or impact of the research project being undertaken.

• How? Describe the proposed arrangements for conducting the research.

• Where? The proposed country where research will be undertaken (one to two countries maximum) and the name and address of the host institute.

• When? The timeframe explicitly stating the proposed starting date and the suggested duration of research which should be of three months minimum and nine months maximum.

• How much? A detailed budget estimate indicating the resources required for the candidate to undertake the proposed research. The amount should be determined according to the proposed duration and place of research (between US$6,000 to US$10,000).

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNESCO/Japan Fellowship Programme