UNESCO is calling on young researchers from developing countries to apply for grants under the UNESCO-Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme (UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme) funded by Japan. The programme, named in honour of a former Prime Minister of Japan, provides twenty research fellowships worth between USD 6,000 – 10,000 each.

Young researchers from 140 countries are invited to apply to their respective National Commissions, which will select a maximum of two candidates. All applications must reach UNESCO’s Paris Headquarters by 7 January 2011. A special committee comprising experts from the four research fields will study the applications and present the donor country with their short-list.

The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme (UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme) funded under a 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 to Water Sciences);
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 1971 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)
* Palestinian researchers

Visit the website for all other eligibility conditions and guidelines for applications.

Deadline January 7, 2011