IMLI and the Nippon Foundation based in Tokyo, Japan, launched during the academic year 2003/2004 their joint “Human Resources Development Project for the Advancement of a More Effective Legal Order for the Oceans”. The aim of this common undertaking is to contribute to the promotion, adoption, effective implementation and enforcement of international maritime conventions adopted under the aegis of the United Nations (UN) and of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and to encourage a greater participation by developing States in the major international maritime law conventions and legal instruments.

The realization of the project has been made possible through the generous contributions of funds by the Nippon Foundation.

An important feature and integral part of this project is to provide scholarships for deserving lawyers from developing countries, especially from the Asian region, to study at IMLI.

During the academic years 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, 17 lawyers from all over the globe, were awarded the Nippon Foundation Scholarship, which allowed them to graduate in international maritime law at the IMO International Maritime Law Institute. In the academic year 2005/2006 another 8 lawyers, from 7 different countries, benefited from the Nippon Foundation Scholarship at IMLI. These are: Ms. Paula Beatriz Grillo (Argentina), Mr. Yongsheng Cai (China), Ms. Thandar Oo (Myanmar), Ms. Geraldine Vasquez Ruiz de Castilla (Peru), Mr. Leo Tito Ausan (Philippines), Mr. Ramon E. Reblora (Philippines), Ms. Kerryn Kwan (Samoa) and Mr. Riyaz Hamza (Sri Lanka).

The “Sasakawa Prize for the Best Performing Nippon Foundation Scholar”, which was presented for the first time during the 2004 Graduation Ceremony, was created as part of the Project, and is awarded every year to the Nippon Scholar who has the best overall performance in IMLI’s LL.M. Programme.