The Nippon Foundation Stepping Up Partnership with United Nations in Nurturing Professionals to Tackle Ocean Issues (2)
(B) The United Nations-Nippon Foundation Thematic Fellowship
This fellowship aims at increasing capacity at the national level through funding of advanced training and research in specific thematic areas of ocean affairs and the law of the sea and related disciplines, so as to provide the necessary knowledge to assist countries in formulating relevant policies in conformity with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This newly established program lasts four months and is structured as follows:
1. Three months of training on ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the U.N. Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) in New York, which serves as the secretariat for UNCLOS.
2. A one-month placement with relevant U.N. organizations, including the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London and the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) in New York, or a New-York based program of briefing and activities.
(C) The United Nations-Nippon Foundation Critical Needs Fellowship
This fellowship aims to deliver critical capacity assistance in the implementation of UNCLOS and related instruments, as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which calls for member nations to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources” as well as other related SDGs. Customized capacity assistance is provided to government officials from developing states and least developed countries, who are filling key positions but have limited experience in ocean affairs and the law of the sea. The program is aimed at addressing critical needs identified by the participants and their governments.
(D) Capacity-building for Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
This program establishes new short courses, held twice annually at U.N. headquarters, to improve government-to-government negotiating skills and gain legal, policymaking, and scientific knowledge and technologies related to BBNJ, for the conclusion of BBNJ treaties.
The programs are tailored to the needs and requests of participating countries so as to enable them to better address strategically important and time-sensitive issues related to the law of the sea and ocean governance.
-------------
Upon completion of these four programs, the fellows are expected to have an advanced awareness and understanding of key issues and best international practices in ocean affairs and to return to their home countries to contribute their experience to assist with the effective implementation of UNCLOS and related instruments and programs.
The world’s oceans are in a critical state. Humanity cannot exist without healthy oceans. I sincerely hope the fellows will take the lead in pioneering innovative collaborations and frameworks to address ocean challenges on a global scale. The Nippon Foundation is there to support them.
(End)