Master’s Degree and Internship Program of African Business Education Initiative for Youth (Up to JPY 1,000,000)

Background on the African Business Education Initiative
for Youth
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.

Procedures and Required Documents for Application
Application procedures are described below.
(1) Procedures for Applicants
For the applicants who apply for FY2023, in principle, application procedures will start by
JICA overseas offices’ contacting the respective countries’ governments and the other relevant
organizations to provide detailed information of the program.
(2) Required Documents for Application for All Applicants
Each applicant is required to submit the following JICA’s Application Documents by the
deadline set by JICA office in the applicants’ country except for the Health certificate listed
below. The applicants who pass the 3
rd Selection* are required to check necessary application
documents set by their desired university. After receiving application documents from
university, the applicants need to submit them directly to the university by the deadline set by
the university.
*For those who apply for universities/schools/courses that do not have the 3
rd Selection (Prematching process), applicants must check and submit necessary application documents set
by the universities by their respective deadlines after the 2
nd Selection.

Expenses to Be Borne / Not to Be Borne by JICA
Under the JICA Long-term Trainee Allowance standards, JICA will cover expenses and
allowance to participants accepted to the program/course.
JICA will provide the following expenses for participant of the program that is equivalent
to similar JICA schemes.

• Tuition at Japanese university Master’s Degree programs (and research student).
• Allowances for living expenses, outfit, shipping etc. See the box below for more details.
• A round-trip airfare
  Other costs should be covered by the participants’ organizations or other individuals.
  See the table below for further details. Note that the payments (e.g. for tuition, research
  support expenses, school support expenses) will not be paid to the accepted participants
  themselves, but directly to the university or other relevant institutions.
  *Participants are not allowed to work while their stay in Japan.
  *When inviting family to Japan (spouse and children only), participants should be responsible
  for all expenses and necessary procedures in Japan by themselves. JICA does not provide
  any support or additional financial assistance except issuing necessary documents for the
  process. If the participants wish to invite families, JICA strongly recommends doing so AFTER
  6 MONTHS upon arrival in Japan at the earliest.

For inquires regarding the General Information, contact the below
JICE: [email protected]

All applications should be submitted by email to the following addresses: [email protected] / [email protected]

The subject of the email should be as follows : “[ABE Initiative FY2023] Submission of Application”

Deadline for submission of applications: 07 October 2022

Visit the official site for details