United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, Codification DivisionWorkshop

UN International Law Course for Africa

Oct 30, 2026 23:59:00 UTC

Opportunity type

Workshop

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Oct 30, 2026 23:59:00 UTC

About this opportunity

The United Nations Office of Legal Affairs runs this in-person course in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 15 March to 7 April 2027, with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa. Up to 30 legal professionals from African countries spend just over three weeks in seminars led by leading international law scholars and practitioners. Most places come with a UN fellowship that pays travel, accommodation, medical insurance and a living stipend.

What you get:

A UN fellowship covering economy travel, accommodation, medical insurance and training materials
A modest stipend for other living costs, set under UN fellowship rules
Meals, which the course website lists as covered (the brochure does not mention them)
Seminars from prominent international law scholars and practitioners from different regions and legal systems
A full set of training materials and a UN certificate for completing the whole course

What you'll do:

Attend the full course in Addis Ababa, 15 March to 7 April 2027, taught in English
Take part in interactive seminars on treaty law, State responsibility, peace and security, dispute settlement, the law and institutions of the African Union, human rights, law of the sea, humanitarian, criminal, environmental, trade and investment law
Join the lectures, seminars and study visits organised during the course

Key dates:

Applications close 30 October 2026
Course runs 15 March to 7 April 2027 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

More information:

Applying is a two-part process: an online form, then an eight-page Word form emailed to rcil-africa@un.org with a signed Letter of Transmission and Recommendation
Brochure and FAQs on the course website: https://legal.un.org/poa/rcil/africa/
Questions go to rcil-africa@un.org

Who can apply

Nationals of UN Member States in the African Group (the Group of African States)
A legal background with professional experience in international law; students are not eligible
Fluent spoken and written English; if English is not your mother tongue or language of instruction, you must send proof such as a diploma, a language certificate or extensive English work experience
A Letter of Transmission signed by a senior official of the government, university or institution presenting your application, plus a signed recommendation from that institution or your supervisor
You do not have to be a government official: academics and professionals at intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations can be nominated by the institution they work for or are affiliated with
You can send the completed application yourself; it does not have to go through your government
Current UN staff members are not eligible
Residents of Addis Ababa can only be considered for self-funded places
You must be able to attend the entire course

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

We could not fully verify this organization or all of its details. Check it independently on the official website before you apply, and never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

LOT Verification ScoreSolid

Cross-checked 10 of 12 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+Run by the UN Office of Legal Affairs with the African Union, Ethiopia and the UN Economic Commission for Africa
+Fellowship covers travel, accommodation, medical insurance, materials and a living stipend
+The UN states in writing that it charges no fee at any stage
+Not limited to government officials: NGO, IGO and academic professionals can apply
+Clear dates, clear eligibility, live application form

Worth checking yourself

!Only nationals of African Group UN Member States can apply
!Requires professional experience in international law; students are not eligible
!Needs a signed Letter of Transmission from a senior official of a nominating government, university or institution, plus a signed recommendation
!Only up to 30 places in total, and some of those are self-funded places where you pay your own travel, insurance, accommodation and living costs
!Addis Ababa residents can only be considered for self-funded places
!The stipend is modest; the FAQ warns many clinics want payment upfront and the stipend does not cover that
!The website lists meals as covered by the fellowship, the brochure does not
!No closing time is published; treat 30 October 2026 as the last day and send early
!Two-part application: the online form and the emailed Word form must both arrive or the application is not considered
!You must attend all three and a half weeks

Sources checked

LElegal.un.orgApplyLElegal.un.orgApplyLElegal.un.orgApplyLElegal.un.orgApplyLElegal.un.orgApplyLElegal.un.orgApplyLElegal.un.orgApplyLElegal.un.orgApplyFOforms.cloud.microsoftOfficialLElegal.un.orgApply

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