UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships for Developing Countries, 2018

A. Description

1. UNESCO designed the project “UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme” (UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme) in the framework of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Capacity-Building of Human Resources which was established in November 2000 by the Government of Japan to enable UNESCO to give impetus to research in four areas under UNESCO’s Priority Programme Areas.

2. The Government of Japan offers 10 fellowships, to be awarded to deserving candidates from developing countries, special attention will be given to those who may wish pursue their research studies in Japan, to women, candidates from LDCs, Africa and SIDS countries 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.

B.      OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

1. 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: 1. Environment (with particular attention on disaster risk reduction (DRR); 2.  Intercultural Dialogue; 3.  Information and Communication Technologies; and 4.  Peaceful conflict resolution. No other research topics will be considered.

C.       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 1978 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) and SIDS

·          * African researchers

·          * Those who may wish pursue their research studies in Japan

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

D.        CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION

  1. Domains of research:

·          Environment (with particular emphasis on disaster risk reduction (DRR);

·          Intercultural Dialogue

·          Information and Communication Technologies

·          Peaceful Conflicts Resolution

  2. Duration of proposed research:

·          minimum:  3 months

·          maximum: 9 months

  3. Closing date for receipt of applications:

·          30 November 2018

  4. Possible date of commencing research:

·          Any time from June 2019 onwards

  5. Deadline for termination of research:

·          end of February 2021

  6. Place of study:

·          In one or two countries   

·          It should be understood that at the end of the Fellowship, the beneficiary must agree to return to his/her home country so that knowledge acquired may be put to good use in local research and training programmes.

  7. Study arrangements:

·          Research must be carried out under the auspices of an academic supervisor in a host institution

8.          Application Procedures

All applications must be submitted with the required documentation on the UNESCO Fellowship Application Form. Each Member State may nominate a maximum of two (2) candidates. 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 Section of Participation Programme and Fellowships, UNESCO, 7, Place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07 SP before 30 November 2018 midnight and an advance copy may be sent by e-mail: s.bantchev@unesco.org and l.zas-friz@unesco.org .

         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.

1. 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.
2. 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. The amount should not exceed US$10,000. All figures must be shown in US dollars and must be included on a separate page. The amount indicated should cover, exclusively, the international or domestic travel costs for the approved itinerary and personal subsistence abroad, etc. (The object of this Programme is to provide research fellowships so it is considered that in most cases tuition fees will not apply). Applicants should be realistic in compiling their proposed budgets, and consider that an average of US$1,000/US$1,800 per month for accommodation and meals (including local transportation and incidentals) should not be exceeded. Applications where funds requested are judged to be excessive in relation to the objectives and importance of the project are likely to be considered for a smaller grant.

(Note: The following costs are not eligible: computer or equipment purchases; publication costs; attendance at conferences, unless a case can be made that such attendance is an integral part of the research and would make a direct and significant contribution to the outcome of the development of the research project.)

UNESCO and Japan attach the greatest importance to originality and quality. Consideration will be given only to well-planned research proposals which demonstrate innovation, imagination and relevance, and which promise to contribute to knowledge in the four specific areas mentioned in paragraph D.1 above.

Files which are incomplete or which are received after the deadline for application, as well as applications that do not meet the requirements mentioned above, will not be taken into consideration.

E.      FACILITIES OFFERED BY UNESCO/JAPAN

The Fellowships financed by Japan and administered by UNESCO will consist of the following:

·          A Lump sum contribution of 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.

F.      SELECTION OF BENEFICIARIES

A Selection Committee made up of experts in the four areas listed above will make recommendations for the final decision of the Japanese Authorities. Applications will be judged on the basis of the merit of each application and of its pertinence to the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme.

 Selected candidates will receive a Letter of Award. Candidates who have not been informed of their selection by 10 May 2019 should consider that their applications have not been approved in the selection process.

For more info: https://en.unesco.org/fellowships/keizo-obuchi/institutional-page/new-launching-cycle-2018