2023 ABE Initiative Master’s Degree and Internship Program for Africans (Fully Funded to Japan)

The “African Business Education Initiative for Youth” (hence referred to as the “ABE Initiative”) was unveiled by then-prime minister Abe Shinzo at the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), which was held in Yokohama in 2013. This comprehensive five-year strategy offers 1,000 African adolescents the chance to study at Japanese universities and complete internships at Japanese businesses. Through the creation of a strong human network between Japan and Africa, the ABE Initiative draws on the idea that human resource development is required in both the corporate and public sectors of Africa.

The program was revived as “ABE initiative 3.0” during the TICAD 7 in Yokohama in 2019, and it would give 3,000 young people in Africa opportunity to study and work.

Objectives:

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

Eligibility Requirements:

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 timing of joining the program (arriving in Japan).
Applicants for the category of “From Government” are required:
to have more than 6 months 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 as working history.
Only full-time working with acquisition of diploma, 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 university

Duration: 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 through 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 do internships 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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