The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program is a capacity-building project by the AfDB and Japan which was initiated in 2017 with the aim of providing two-year scholarship awards to highly achieving African graduate students to enable them to undergo post-graduate studies (i.e. a two-year Master’s degree program) in selected priority development areas on the continent and Japan. The overarching goal the AfDB and the Government of Japan seek to attain is to enhance skills and human resources development in Africa is under the Bank’s High 5s agenda (i.e. “Feed Africa”, “Light up Africa”, “Industrialize Africa”, “Integrate Africa” and “Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa”) and key Japanese development assistance initiatives. JADS main areas of study focus include energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering. The initiative also aims to foster inter-university collaboration and university-industry collaborations between Japan and Africa. Upon completion of their studies, the JADS scholars are expected to return to their home countries to use and transmit their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the public and commercial sectors and contribute to national and continental socio-economic development.

Eliigibility

Applicants should be 35 years old or younger; in good health; with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the energy field or similar field; and have a strong educational record. Upon completion of their study programs, scholars are expected to return to their home country to contribute to its social and economic development.

Broadly speaking, nationals of African countries must:

• Be a national of a AfDB member country
• Be in good health
• Hold a Bachelor (or equivalent) degree in the energy area (or related field) earned at least 1 years prior to the application deadline date
• Have 1 years or more of recent development-related experience after earning a Bachelor (or equivalent) degree
• Be accepted unconditionally to enroll in the upcoming academic year in at least one of the JADS partner universities for a Master’s degree
• Applicants living or working in a country other than his or her home country are not eligible for scholarships
• JADS does not support applicants who are already enrolled in graduate degree programs
• Not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of all types of appointments of the African Development Bank Group or a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term “close relative” defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew

Benefits

The JADS Scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:

• Economy class air travel between your home country and the host university at the start of the study program and immediately following the end of the scholarship period
• Tuition for a graduate program and the cost of basic medical insurance usually obtained through the university
• A monthly subsistence allowance to cover living expenses, including books

Timeline

August 31, 2021: The application portal closes.

How to Apply

If you check all criteria boxes, begin your application online before the 2021 AfDB Scholarship (JADS) Program closes on Tuesday, August 31, 2021