A. Departure Letter and Travel and Payment Instructions (TPI)
5. A letter is sent to the fellow and to his/her Government indicating that a training programme has been arranged, and naming the host country or countries where it will take place. The travel and payment instructions (TPI) attached to this departure letter stipulate the following:
(a) Exact dates of the award;
(b) Host country or countries;
(c) Office or person to whom the fellow must report on arrival in the host country or countries;
(d) Amount of the stipend and other allowances;
(e) Details concerning the fellow’s travel to the country or countries of study.
Fellows should read these documents carefully and be sure they understand the contents thoroughly. They must arrange their departure so as to arrive at the reporting office on the date indicated. They should keep the departure letter and the travel and payment instructions (TPI) in their possession throughout the duration of the fellowship programme.
B. Medical Certificate
6. (a) The nomination form TCD.71 (5-89-E) has a medical report section (part V) which requires that fellows undergo a preliminary but thorough clinical and laboratory examination, including chest x- rays, at the time of submission of nomination forms. In addition, the final medical clearance certificate MS-22 (the blue form) stipulates that candidates should undergo a medical examination not more than four months prior to the effective date of the fellowship award. The completed certificate, including chest x-ray, signed by a physician, should be forwarded to the UN/DESA office responsible for the candidate’s training programme. Should the medical certificate be missing, incomplete or unsatisfactory, UN/DESA reserves the right to have the fellows medically examined. All costs relating to medical examinations undergone prior to the beginning of the awards are to be borne by the fellows or their Governments;
(b) For all fellowships up to one month, a statement of good health attested to by a duly qualified physician would be sufficient.
(c) If a fellow undertakes the award without having undergone a medical examination and is later requested to do so, the cost of the medical examination is to be borne by the fellow or the fellow’s Government.
C. Language Proficiency
7. Notification of the award is given to fellows as far in advance as possible, in order that they may prepare themselves to derive the maximum advantage from their training opportunities. Of paramount importance to this end is fluency in the language which fellows will use in the host country or countries.
If it proves necessary for fellows to receive language training prior to the commencement of theirellowship programmes, the cost of such training should normally be borne by themselves or by their Governments.
D. Information Concerning Host Countries
8. It is suggested that, before leaving home, fellows request their Governments to arrange for them to visit the information service or the cultural attaché of the embassy of the host country or countries for
information on general conditions there, and, especially, for technical literature in their field of study. If
there is a United Nations Information Centre, a Resident Representative’s Office of the United Nations
Development Programme, or a DESA/Chief Technical Adviser’s Office sufficiently near their home,
fellows should also visit these offices for further information concerning the activities of the UN/DESA
and the possibility of meeting UN/DESA experts in their field.
E. Clothing
9. Fellows are reminded that the climate in the host country or countries may be very different from that in the home country. This applies particularly to fellows from tropical or subtropical countries who will be going to countries in the northern hemisphere during the period October-April, or in the southern hemisphere during the period May-October. It is essential that they should provide themselves with clothing suitable to the climate of the host country or countries. No clothing allowance will be paid by UN/DDSMS.
F. Family and Dependents
10. UN/DESA fellows are urged not to take family members with them. The monthly stipend rates are sufficient only to cover the normal living expenses of one person. No allowances of any kind will be paid for dependents. Fellows should also consider that, in the course of their award, they may be required to travel under circumstances that would make it difficult or impossible for their dependants to accompany them.
11. The fellow’s Government is expected to continue to pay his/her salary in the home country, or to make such other arrangements as may be appropriate to maintain the fellow’s dependants while he/she is abroad. DESA can in no case assume responsibility for dependants.
G. Notification of Arrival
12. As early as possible, fellows should advise the reporting office indicated on the travel and payment instructions (TPI) of their expected date of arrival, and whether they require a hotel reservation. The exact time, flight number and date of arrival should be confirmed to the reporting office by cable before departure from the home country. Travel must not begin until the fellows have been notified by UN/DESA that travel is authorized. They will receive this notification either directly, or through the Government, or through the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme.
H. Briefing
13. Upon arrival at the reporting office, fellows will be briefed on all aspects of their fellowship, particularly with regard to the training programme.
14. The address of the Training & Fellowships Section in New York is as indicated in the travel and payment instructions (TPI). When telephoning, the fellows should ask for the extension number indicated in their travel and payment instructions.
15. If the fellows do not pass through New York, they will be given specific instructions concerning the person to whom they should report.
16. Upon arrival at the reporting office in New York, fellows will receive cards certifying that they are holders of United Nations Fellowships.
17. All correspondence relating to fellowships should be addressed to the Training & Fellowships Section, Department for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York.