UNESCO Opens Applications for 2026 Japan Young Researchers' Fellowships

UNESCO is inviting applications for the 2026 cycle of the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme (UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme), which supports outstanding young researchers undertaking postgraduate research in areas that contribute to sustainable development and international cooperation. Applications close on 30 September 2026.

Funded by the Government of Japan, the programme will award ten fellowships to researchers from eligible countries, including several Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX) EMAP partner countries: Ukraine, Maldives, Timor-Leste, and Fiji, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Successful applicants will receive funding of up to $10,000 USD to support a research stay of between three and nine months at a Japanese university or research institution.

For the 2026 cycle, research proposals should focus on one of five interdisciplinary priority areas:

• Heritage Conservation and Management;
• AI for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Climate Action;
• Ethical, Inclusive and Human-Centred AI for Sustainable Development;
• AI for Sustainable Cities, Infrastructure and Societal Resilience; and
• AI and Education.

Applicants must be 40 years of age or younger, hold at least a master’s degree (or equivalent), and obtain acceptance from a host supervisor at a Japanese university or research institution before applying. Full details on eligibility, application procedures and required documents – including the application form and research proposal template – are available on the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme webpage: https://www.unesco.org/en/fellowships/keizo-obuchi.