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BBNJ Trust Fund

Voluntary trust fund for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, land-locked developing countries and small island developing States, in attending the meetings of the preparatory committee and an intergovernmental conference on the development of an international legally-binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction

Deadline Closed.

Eligibility for Assistance

The purpose of the Trust Fund is to provide financial assistance to representatives of developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing States to participate in the intergovernmental conferences.  Assistance is limited to one representative per delegation designated by their Government and selected as recipient.

Application

The application package, to be sent by Governments through their Permanent Missions to the United Nations, must contain the following:

  1. A communication from the Government requesting financial assistance from the Voluntary Trust Fund for the delegate who will attend the meeting, clearly indicating the following:
    1. The name, date of birth and detailed contact information for the delegate;
    2. The dates during which the delegate will be required to attend the meeting;
    3. What assistance with respect to travel, if any, will be provided to the delegate by the Government;
  2. A copy of the confirmation page of the online application form submitted by the Applicant;
  3. A copy of the passport biodata page and any required visas for the delegate; 
  4. A copy of a valid USA visa or ESTA; and
  5. A completed and signed F.249 banking form for the delegate;
  6. Verification of bank account information (e.g. voided check); 
  7. GRULAC countries please submit a copy of the delegate's National ID (Tax ID).

It is important to note that economy round-trip airline tickets will be issued directly by the United Nations in due course. It is of the utmost importance that the beneficiaries of the travel assistance do not purchase their own tickets. Furthermore, the delegate will be requested to provide the Division with copies of all boarding passes as a condition for assistance.

Applications may be sent by email to: doalos@un.org with a copy to khan42@un.org  or delivered to:

Office of Legal Affairs Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
United Nations Headquarters
Room No. DC2-0450
New York, NY 10017

Forms

  1. 2023 Further Resumed 5th Session Online Application Form
  2. Banking Form (F.249)
  3. OPTIONAL: Personal Deviation Request Form (Travel)

 

DEADLINE CLOSED

Assistance

Assistance may be provided from the Trust Fund to one representative per delegation for the following:

  1. UN purchased economy-class roundtrip ticket to New York City; and
  2. UN Daily subsistence allowance (DSA) to assist with living expenses.

Note: the United Nations will make arrangements for travel funded under this Trust Fund, and in all cases assistance will be provided an economy class airfare which follows the most cost-effective route, arriving the day before the proceedings and departing the evening of the last day of the proceedings, or the following day if necessary for travel-related reasons.

About

Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/292 of 19 June 2015, a special voluntary trust fund was established for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, land-locked developing countries and small island developing States, in attending the meetings of the Preparatory Committee and the intergovernmental conference by providing for economy round-trip airfares for delegates. Pursuant to resolution 72/249 of 24 December 2017, the trust fund will include daily subsistence allowance in addition to defraying the costs of economy-class travel, limiting requests for assistance from this trust fund to one delegate per State for each session.

For information on the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (General Assembly resolution 72/249) please see here