Call for UNESCO-Keizo Obuchi Fellowship applications from young researchers

UNESCO is inviting young researchers in developing countries to apply for grants through the UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowship Programme, financed for the tenth time by Japan through funds-in-trust dedicated to the development of human resources.

The programme – named after the late Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi who was known for his commitment to development issues – offers a total of 20 fellowships for a maximum value of US$6,000-10,000 each. They target post-graduate university researchers with a Masters Degree or equivalent in one of four fields: the environment, inter-cultural dialogue, information and communication technology, and peaceful conflict resolution.

In a series of letters, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, has called on UNESCO’s National Commissions, Permanent Delegations to UNESCO and the Organization’s field offices to invite potential candidates from 144 countries to apply for the fellowships. Applications must reach UNESCO Headquarters in Paris before 8 January, 2010.

Researchers under 40 years of age must submit their applications to their country’s National Commission for UNESCO, which will select a maximum of two candidates. A special selection committee of experts in the four research fields concerned will review the applications and propose a pre-selection to the Director-General of the Organization.

Website: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46115&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html