Background

Established by the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament, the United Nations Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament has trained over 1,100 officials from 172 Member States since 1979. The Programme is implemented by the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).  

The Programme aims at the training and specialization of national officials, particularly in developing countries, to enable them to participate more effectively in international fora addressing disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control issues.

Participants in the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme are selected among candidates nominated by the Member States of the United Nations (one nomination per Member State per year). The selection is based on the greater needs of developing countries to train their young diplomats; their professional experience; anticipated future responsibilities, as well as overall geographical and gender balance.

The Programme has enabled former Fellows to participate more effectively in regional and global efforts in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, and has created an informal network across all regions of the world to work cooperatively and constructively towards a common peaceful future.

The Programme covers all topics on the disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control agenda through a combination of theory and practice. Fellows benefit from lectures, simulations, practical exercises, e-learning, and research, as well as study visits to international organizations and to specific countries upon invitation of their Governments.

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Nomination and selection process – 2025

Applications for the 2025 United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme are open!!

In 2025, up to 25 fellowships will be awarded. Candidates must be nominated by their Governments. Each Government may submit only one only nomination and should address it, through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations to the address below:

Coordinator,
United Nations Disarmament Fellowship Programme
Office for Disarmament Affairs, Geneva Branch
United Nations Office at Geneva, Palais des Nations
Room S-188
1211 Geneva 10 – Switzerland
Email: undisarmamentfellowshipprogramme@un.org

Please read the Note Verbale (English and French) and 2025 Guidelines (English and French).

Application material is as follows:

(i) Online application (Available in English and French – Please select the preferred language from the top right menu)
(ii) Nomination Form (English) (French)
(iii) Medical form (English) (French)
(iv) Copy of the first page of the candidate’s national passport;
(v) Note Verbale from the Permanent Mission of the Member State submitting the nomination.