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Welcome to ABE Initiative Master’s Degree and Internship Program 2023 for young Africans (Fully Funded to Japan)
Deadline for submission of applications: 07 October 2022

September 12, 2022

ABE Initiative Master’s Degree and Internship Program

Application Deadline: October 7, 2022

BackGround

At the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), held in Yokohama in 2013, then Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced the “African Business Education Initiative for Youth” (hereafter referred to as the “ABE Initiative”). This is a strategic five-year plan providing 1,000 youths in Africa with opportunities to study at Japanese universities as well as to do internships at Japanese enterprises. ABE Initiative builds on the concept that there is a need for human resource development in both private and public sectors of Africa through cultivating a strong human network between Japan and Africa.

At the TICAD 7 held in Yokohama in 2019, the initiative was renewed as “ABE initiative 3.0” which would provide opportunities for 3,000 youths in Africa to study and intern in Japan over the next 6 years. Since 2014, more than 1,400 participants from all the 54 countries have ever joined the program, and over 1,200 participants have completed. This has resulted in establishing a wide range of human resource network of ABE Initiative participants. Furthermore, many Japanese companies and ABE Initiative participants have collaborated in various ways to promote the development of private sectors in Africa.

ABE Initiative Master’s Degree and Internship Program OBJECTIVES

Objectives:

to support the young generation willing to contribute to the development of industries in Africa.
to foster persons that bridge between Africa and Japan through a deep understanding of Japanese society and Japanese business culture

Eligibility Requirements:

ABE Initiative Master’s Degree and Internship Program Qualifications and Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

(1) Nationality – Citizens of one of the 54 African countries

(2) Age – Less than forty (40) years of age (as of April 1st, 2023)

(3) Educational background – Bachelor’s degree (equivalent to at least 16 years of academic background)

(4) Working experience /status Applicants for the category of “From the Private Sector” are required:

to have working experiences,
not to be employed by Japanese companies at the time of joining the program (arriving in Japan).
Applicants for the category of “From Government” are required:
to have more than 6 months of working experience at their current organizations and
to obtain permission for application, and
to secure reinstatement from their current organizations. ※Any employment before university completion is not considered a

working history.
Only full-time work
with the acquisition of diplomas, such as night school, is approved as working experience.
English language Proficiency – Adequate English skills both in written and oral communication to complete the
Master’s Degree such as; TOEFL iBT:80 / CEFR: B2 (estimated score)
*The required level of English for admission may differ according to the university

Duration Of STUDY: September 2023 – August, 2026 (Maximum period)

6 months as a research student if applicable
1 or 2 years as a Master’s student
Internship after graduation for the limited participants only (details are to be determined) [NOTES]
Participants may not be able to arrive in Japan by September 2023, depending on the situation of the pandemic. In such case, the participants are requested to start the program on the online basis from their respective countries or enrollment will be postponed until participants are allowed to come to Japan in case the university does not provide online lectures.

Internship at Japanese Private Companies

All participants are expected to intern at Japanese companies during their stay in Japan (ex. summer break, after graduation, etc.).
Internship programs are carried out in English. In principle, any reward or compensation should NOT be paid to both the companies and the participants. Details of the internships will be fixed at the hosting

Recommended Qualifications

Gender Equality and Women‘s Empowerment: Women are encouraged to apply for the program. JICA makes a commitment to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, providing equal opportunity for all applicants regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

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