The UNESCO Secretariat has announced a competitive selection for participation in the UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme for young researchers for 2026.
The program is implemented with financial support from the Government of Japan and aims to strengthen the research potential of young scientists, develop international academic cooperation, and exchange experience in the fields of UNESCO's mandate.
As part of the 2026 competitive selection, 10 fellowships will be awarded to young researchers from African countries, small island developing states (SIDS), as well as Ukraine and Turkey to carry out interdisciplinary postgraduate research projects in Japan.
The main requirements for candidates are:
- citizenship of a country invited to participate in the Program;
- under 40 years of age at the time of application;
- possession of a master's degree or other qualification of the appropriate level in a field corresponding to the research topic;
- sufficient proficiency in the language of instruction or scientific supervision at the host institution;
- prior confirmation of the willingness of a Japanese scientific supervisor and institution to accept the candidate for the research project.
Please consider and, if candidates are available, send completed nomination sets of documents in English to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretariat of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO) by the end of the working day on September 16, 2026.