UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Young Researchers' Fellowship 2026
UNESCO
Ten fellowships of up to US$10,000 for young researchers from eligible UNESCO Member States to carry out a three to nine month research stay in Japan.
Last checked 3 September 2026
This call is closed. The deadline was 30 September 2026. This page remains available for reference.
At a glance
- Funding / main benefit
- Up to USD 10,000
- Deadline
- 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time (01:00 EAT on 1 October)Europe/Paris
- Duration
- Not stated
- Location / format
- Not stated
- Career stage
- Early-career researcher
- Geographic eligibility
- Not stated
- Deadline
- 30 September 2026
- Research period begins
- 1 February 2027
- Research period ends
- 31 December 2027
About the opportunity
The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Young Researchers' Fellowship is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan Funds-in-Trust. It supports young researchers from eligible Member States, including Uganda, to undertake research in Japan.
Ten fellowships of up to US$10,000 are offered. The research period runs from February to December 2027, with individual stays of three to nine months.
The critical procedural point is the submission route: candidatures are put forward by the National Commission for UNESCO of the applicant's country, not accepted as ordinary individual submissions. National Commissions apply their own internal deadlines, which are usually earlier than the UNESCO deadline.
Is this for me?
Best suited to: Early-career researchers with a Japanese host contact and time to work through a National Commission nomination.
Uganda relevance: Yes. Uganda is among the eligible UNESCO Member States, but applications are channelled through the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO rather than submitted directly by individuals.
Not suitable if
- You cannot travel to or reside in Japan during the 2027 research period
- You intend to apply directly to UNESCO without National Commission endorsement
- Your topic falls outside the official 2026 research fields
Methods Bench fit considerations
- You meet the age and qualification criteria in the official 2026 call
- Your topic falls within the official 2026 research fields
- You can start a research stay in Japan between February and December 2027
- You can meet your National Commission's internal deadline
Editorial guidance, not an eligibility verdict. Confirm requirements with the funder.
What the opportunity provides
- A research stay in Japan of three to nine months
- Research within the official 2026 UNESCO research fields, as listed in the current call
Methods Bench application considerations
The National Commission route. The effective deadline is your Commission's internal one, which is usually well before 30 September.
Relying on eligibility rules from a previous round. Research fields and criteria are set afresh in each call.
- Have I contacted my National Commission and confirmed its internal deadline?
- Do I meet the 2026 age and qualification criteria?
- Is my topic in a 2026 research field?
- Do I have a Japanese host institution?
- Can I be in Japan between February and December 2027?
Eligibility checklist
- Countries: Eligible UNESCO Member States, including Uganda
- Submission route: Through the National Commission for UNESCO of the applicant's country
- Host country: Japan
- Research period: February to December 2027, three to nine months
- Age and qualification criteria: As stated in the official 2026 call. Do not rely on criteria from earlier rounds.
- Research fields: As listed in the official 2026 call.
What to prepare
Required at this stage
- Application submitted via the National Commission for UNESCO, in the format required by the official 2026 call
How to apply
- 01
Read the official 2026 call
Confirm this year's research fields and age and qualification criteria.
- 02
Contact your National Commission for UNESCO
In Uganda this is the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO. Ask for their internal deadline and format.
- 03
Identify a host institution in Japan
Plan a research stay of three to nine months within February to December 2027.
- 04
Submit through the National Commission
Your Commission forwards endorsed candidatures to UNESCO by 30 September 2026.
Sources and verification
Last checked: 3 September 2026.
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