Opportunity Title: Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea

Objectives

The Strategic Needs Fellowship aims to enable the most vulnerable States, particularly least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, to better address strategically important and time-sensitive issues facing them in ocean affairs and the law of the sea. Government officials from these States with a limited background in ocean affairs and the law of the sea, who are filling key positions in their Administration, are provided with in-depth highly customized training on ocean affairs and the law of the sea, with a focus on those areas in which States have identified  critical capacity barriers.

Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows are expected to return to their positions and use their training on international legal frameworks, key issues and best practices in ocean affairs, the work of the United Nations, and professional skills, to assist their States in the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments, as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and other related SDGs. For further details on the Fellowship objectives see this documentPDF.

Fellowship structure, curriculum and deliverables

The Fellowship consists of a four-month training programme at the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. A highly customized individual curriculum is developed by DOALOS for successful candidates, based on the high‐priority needs identified by their States and with a view to building the capacity of Fellows to assist the State in effectively addressing those needs.

In addition, the Fellows will be fully integrated in the training activities developed for the UN-NF Fellows, thereby being exposed to opportunities for additional learning and networking. For further details on the Fellowship curriculum, see this documentPDF.

The deliverables of the Fellowship Programme include a number of assignments to be completed in the context of the training curriculum and the development of an ocean governance matrix.

Depending on needs identified, Fellows may, during the four-month training programme, undertake a learning placement with either a Department of the United Nations Secretariat, a specialized agency, or an organization affiliated with the United Nations or other relevant organization.

The Strategic Needs Fellowship is offered annually, usually between the months of August and December.

Fellowship conditions

For the conditions of the Fellowship, including regarding travel, stipend payments, visas, medical clearance, insurance and housing, please see the Fellowship Conditions page.