Announcement of the Opening of Applications for the ABE Initiative 2027 Master’s Scholarship – JICA

Saida Dr Moulay Tahar University informs individuals interested in enrolling in the Japanese ABE Initiative 2027 Scholarship Program that applications are now open for:

• Master’s Degree and Internship Program of African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative)

This program is offered by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of its long-term cooperation and training programs. It provides beneficiaries with the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree at a Japanese university, with the possibility of undertaking an internship at a Japanese institution or company.

First: Program Objectives

The ABE Initiative aims to:

Develop and train human resources capable of contributing to Africa’s economic and industrial development. Strengthen cooperation and relations between Africa and Japan. Develop professionals who can serve as a bridge for cooperation between African and Japanese institutions and companies. Provide opportunities to study at Japanese universities, along with the possibility of participating in internship programs at Japanese institutions. Second: Program Duration

The program period runs from September 17, 2027 to August 2030 at the latest.

Depending on the candidate’s situation and the university, the program may include:

Up to 6 months as a Research Student, where applicable. One or two years as a Master’s student. The possibility of undertaking a post-graduation internship of up to 6 months for interested candidates.

The language of instruction for the program is English.

Third: Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following basic requirements:

1. Nationality

Be a citizen of an African country eligible for Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA).

1. Age

Be 40 years old or younger as of April 1, 2027.

1. Educational Background

Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, corresponding to at least 16 years of formal academic education.

1. Health Status

Be in good health and medically fit to participate in the program and study in Japan.

1. Professional Experience

For applicants from the public sector, the following are required:

More than 6 months of experience at the current institution. Approval from the employing institution to apply. Assurance that the applicant will be able to return to and resume work at their institution after completing the program.

For applicants from the private sector, professional experience is required, and the applicant must not be employed by a Japanese company at the time of joining the program.

Fourth: English Language Proficiency

Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in English in:

reading – writing – listening – speaking.

The indicated levels are:

TOEFL iBT: 80 IELTS: 6.5 CEFR: B2 Duolingo: 120–125

Please note that the English proficiency level required for admission may vary depending on the selected Japanese university.

Fifth: Research Fields

Proposed research topics should be related to contributing to government policies and sustainable development.

Examples of fields mentioned in the guidelines include:

Public administration and public policy. Finance and public finance. International politics and diplomacy. Regional studies. Business. International trade and investment. Disaster risk reduction. Maritime issues. Other fields related to development and economic policies. Sixth: Application File

Applicants wishing to apply must prepare an application file containing the application form and required documents.

The main required documents are:

JICA Application Form Part A Part B Annex 1 Annex 2 Graduation Certificate / University Degree Officially certified copy of the original. In English or accompanied by an official English translation. Academic Transcript Showing all grades obtained throughout the university course. Officially certified copy. In English or accompanied by an official English translation. Copy of proof of English language proficiency. Copy of passport or identity card bearing a photograph, for verification of nationality, name, sex, and date of birth. Two passport-sized photographs, measuring 4 × 3 cm, to be attached to the application form according to the required format.

Important: Documents submitted will not be returned to the applicant.

Seventh: Additional Documents at a Later Stage

Some documents are not required during the initial application stage. They will be requested after applicants pass the selection stages and proceed with the admission process at the Japanese university.

These include:

Health Certificate according to the JICA format. Medical History according to the JICA format.

These documents must be submitted to the JICA office in the applicant’s country within the deadlines specified by the program. The health certificate must be dated April 1, 2027 or later.

Eighth: Selection Process

The application process consists of several main stages:

Stage One: Screening by JICA in the Applicant’s Country

Documents are reviewed and eligibility requirements are verified.

This stage mainly takes place during:

August 2026 – October 2026, with the exact schedule determined by the JICA office in the applicant’s country.

Stage Two: Interview

Applicants who pass the first stage will be invited to an interview.

The period indicated in the guidelines is:

August 2026 – the end of October 2026.

Stage Three: Matching with Japanese Universities

The applicant’s file is reviewed by Japanese universities, particularly:

The research proposal. Graduation certificate. Academic transcript. Compatibility between the proposed research field and the relevant academic fields and potential supervisors.

This stage takes place during:

December 2026 – January 2027.

Stage Four: Final Selection by the Japanese University

After receiving the matching result, the applicant prepares the documents required by the university to which they have been selected to apply.

This stage takes place approximately from:

February 2027 to the end of July 2027.

During the official university application stage, applicants are permitted to apply to only one Japanese university.

Ninth: Financial Support

For officially accepted applicants, the JICA program covers a number of expenses and provides several benefits, including:

Tuition and study-related fees, including examination, admission, and tuition fees, according to actual costs. A monthly living allowance ranging from JPY 143,000 to JPY 148,000, depending on the location, type of accommodation, and other factors. Airfare, in accordance with JICA regulations. A one-time arrival/settlement and clothing allowance of JPY 100,000. A relocation allowance of up to approximately JPY 164,000–224,000, depending on the circumstances. Research support expenses of up to JPY 360,000 per year, according to the applicable rules. Coverage of certain medical expenses, according to the insurance system provided under the program.

The financial coverage does not include certain expenses, including passport fees, some visa-related expenses, domestic transportation within the applicant’s country, taxes, and other expenses specified in the guidelines.

Tenth: Submission of the Application File at the University Level

Applicants wishing to apply must submit a complete application file to:

The Vice-Deanship for Postgraduate Studies and External Relations at the faculties

The faculty will:

Receive the applications. Conduct an initial check of their completeness. Prepare the nominative list of applicants. Forward the applications and list to the Vice-Directorate for External Relations, and then to the supervisory ministry, in accordance with the established administrative procedure. Eleventh: Deadlines

According to the correspondence received from the Directorate of University Cooperation and Exchanges (DCEU) of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the deadline for forwarding the nominative list of applicants together with their application files is September 1, 2026.

Given the need for applications to pass through the faculties and then the Vice-Directorate for External Relations before being forwarded to the ministry, an internal deadline two days earlier than the ministry’s deadline has been established.

The deadline for submitting applications at the faculty level is Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Very Important Note Regarding the Publication of Official Documents

In accordance with the request of the Directorate of University Cooperation and Exchanges (DCEU) of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research concerning the publication of program and scholarship opportunities, please do not publish the official correspondence issued by the ministry in its entirety on social media platforms, particularly Facebook.

Accordingly:

This announcement may be published, as it contains the essential information about the program, eligibility requirements, required documents, and deadlines, together with the application forms and registration guide. The official correspondence issued by the ministry must not be published in its entirety. Complete photographs or copies of the official correspondence must not be published on Facebook or any other social media platform. Applicants may contact the Vice-Deanship for Postgraduate Studies and External Relations at their faculties to consult the official documents and registration guide when necessary.