In March 1999, the UNU received a Japanese yen 100 million contribution from the Government of Japan in memory of Dr. Yutaka Akino, who was killed in July 1998 while on active service as a Civil Affairs Officer of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT). Based on an agreement between the UNU and the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this donation is being used over a period of several years to support activities related to the late Dr. Akino's research and professional interests.

Part of the donation has been set aside to support young Japanese undertaking internships within the United Nations system outside of Japan in order to help raise their awareness of issues of global concern and increase their understanding of the functioning of international organizations. Each UNU-Akino Memorial Internship will cover travel and insurance costs and provide support for living expenses for a maximum of one year.

Japanese university graduates who have applied for an internship at any organization within the UN system located outside of Japan are invited to apply. (The UNU will not assist in locating such internship positions.) Along with the completed application form, applicants must submit evidence of their application for the internship position, two letters of recommendation and an essay outlining their reasons for taking up an internship in the UN system.

Applications will be reviewed with particular emphasis on the relevance of the applicant's internship position to Dr. Akino's areas of research and professional interest (conflict prevention and peace-building, as well as the Central Asian region), demonstrated interest in issues of global concern, prior experience (including on a voluntary basis) in working for the advancement of society, and level of language capability in the working language(s) of the organization in which the candidate will work as an intern.

Applications will be accepted twice annually, with closing dates of 1 April and 1 October. Successful candidates (up to six per year) will be notified within six weeks after the application deadline.