Applications are now open for the Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2025-2026, a prestigious capacity-building initiative jointly implemented by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Japan. The program is designed to empower the next generation of African leaders by equipping them with advanced education, technical expertise, and leadership skills to address Africa’s pressing development challenges.
Aligned with the AfDB’s High 5 strategic priorities—Feed Africa, Light up and Power Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa—the JADS Program also complements Japan’s long-standing development assistance initiatives in Africa.
Through this fully-funded opportunity, high-achieving African students will have the chance to pursue two-year, full-time master’s degree programs in key development-related fields such as energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering. The program prioritizes applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to contributing to the socio-economic development of their home countries. Upon graduation, scholars are expected to return home and apply their newly acquired skills to drive impactful change.
Scholarship Benefits
The JADS Program offers comprehensive financial coverage to ensure scholars can focus entirely on their studies and research. Benefits include:
- Full tuition coverage for the entire study program (up to 24 months).
- Monthly living allowance for the duration of the program.
- Round-trip air travel from the scholar’s home country to the host university at the start of the program, and back upon completion.
- Comprehensive health insurance, typically arranged through the host institution.
- Up to six additional months for preparatory studies or internships after graduation to facilitate professional readiness.
- Special research grants for scholars undertaking thesis work or research projects.
- In certain cases, coverage for computer literacy, language preparation, or other foundational courses if required for program success.
Note: The scholarship supports only the standard duration of the graduate program (maximum two years).
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the JADS Program, applicants must:
- Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the targeted fields: energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, engineering, or related disciplines.
- Have outstanding academic performance and relevant professional experience in their field.
- Possess a minimum of one year of paid work experience in their home country or another African country, obtained within the past three years after graduation.
- Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application and in good physical health.
- Secure admission to an approved master’s degree program at a Japanese or African partner university (applications for admission must be made directly to the partner university—see official list of approved institutions and programs).
- Not be enrolled in another graduate degree program at the time of application.
- Be a citizen of an AfDB regional member country.
- Not be an Executive Director, Alternate Executive Director, or staff member of the AfDB Group, nor a close relative (mother, father, sibling, half-sibling, child, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew) of such individuals.
Application Process
- Obtain information and application forms directly from your chosen JADS partner university using their official contact details.
- Submit your admission application to the university.
- The university evaluates and shortlists candidates, issuing provisional offer letters to successful applicants.
- The university submits the list of provisionally selected candidates to the African Development Bank.
- The AfDB reviews applications, applying JADS selection criteria, and forwards results to the JADS Program Implementation Unit (PIU) for final evaluation.
- Successful candidates are officially notified by the AfDB, and participating universities are informed to proceed with enrollment arrangements.
This scholarship represents not just a fully-funded academic opportunity but a long-term investment in Africa’s future leaders. By studying at world-class institutions and engaging with peers and experts from across the continent and Japan, JADS scholars gain the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to design and implement transformative solutions for Africa’s development challenges.
For more details and to access the list of partner universities, visit the official Japan Africa Dream Scholarship webpage.
