2023 Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program for Developing Countries

1.1 About the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
1.2 Scholarship Benefits
1.3 Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
1.4 Required Documents
1.5 Scholarship Selection Process
1.6 Method of Application
1.7 Deadline

About the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

The JJ/WBGSP (Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program) is a scholarship program that welcomes applications from citizens of specific developing countries who possess relevant professional experience and have demonstrated a commitment to their country’s development endeavors. This scholarship is exclusively for those who are pursuing a master’s degree in a field related to development.

The JJ/WBGSP provides scholarships for 45 Participating Master’s Programs that cover key development areas, such as economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management, across 27 universities situated in the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan. However, the availability of funding is subject to change.

Upon completion of their degree, scholars from developing countries make a commitment to go back to their home country, apply their newly acquired skills, and actively contribute towards the social and economic development of their nation.

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Scholarship Benefits

A Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWBGSP) provides:

• Tuition fee

• A monthly living stipend to cover all living expenses like food, accommodations, etc., including books.

• Round-trip airfare. Awardees will receive a US $500 travel allowance for each trip.

• Health insurance.

It is important to note that all JJ/WBGSP cover either the entire duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever that is less. However, the scholarship does not cover costs such as:

• Visa application fees

• Expenses related to supporting family members.

• Extra-curricular courses or training.

• Language training is not provided by the graduate scholarship program.

• Additional travel expenses during the course of the study program.

• The scholarship also does not cover expenses related to research, supplementary educational materials, field trips, participation in workshops/seminars, internships, or educational equipment such as computers.

Note: The JJ/WBGSP scholarship is intended to supplement any other financial support or fellowship received, and applicants must inform the program of any additional sources of funding they have.

Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for each call for applications are outlined in the corresponding Application Guidelines, and they are strictly enforced without any exceptions. To be eligible for the JJ/WBGSP, applicants must:

• Be a citizen of a developing country that is a member of the World Bank.

• Not possess dual citizenship in any developed country.

• Be in good health.

• Have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent earned at least three years before the Application Deadline.

• Possess three or more years of recent development-related work experience.

• Additionally, Applicants must be employed full-time in development-related work and have acquired at least three years of paid development-related employment within the past six years.

• Furthermore, they must have unconditional admission to at least one of the participating master’s programs, located outside their country of citizenship and country of residence, before the Scholarship Application Deadline. 

• Finally, applicants must not be related to the Executive Director or any staff of the World Bank Group.

Required Documents

• Two professional recommendation letters

• One completed Application Form

• Documentation proving that the applicant meets the eligibility requirement for the number of years of development-related work experience

• The applicant’s bachelor’s degree diploma, and if applicable, the diploma for the applicant’s most advanced graduate degree

• C.V. written in English (or French for the GPE program at FERDI only) using the provided format, which should include paid work experience and a separate category for unpaid work such as internships and

• An unconditional Letter of Admission for the upcoming academic year to a participating master’s program listed on the JJ/WBGSP website, outside of the applicant’s country of citizenship and residence, and for which the applicant is seeking JJ/WBGSP funding. The term “unconditional” is further explained in Annex 5.

Scholarship Selection Process

The JJ/WBGSP employs a specific process to evaluate eligible scholarship applications submitted by nationals of developing countries. The primary goal is to identify candidates with the highest potential to impact their country’s development after completing their graduate studies. The evaluation process involves two assessors who independently review each eligible application and provide scores on a scale of 1 to 10. The assessors consider four main factors and the degree of coherence among them while scoring the applications.

1. Quality of Education Background (10% weight)

2. Quality of Professional Experience (30% weight)

3. Quality of Commitment to Your Home Country (30% weight)

4. Quality of Professional Recommendations (30% weight)

After the two assessors independently evaluate each eligible application, the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat utilizes their average score and specific criteria to select the finalists. These criteria include:

• Maintaining a good and reasonably wide geographical distribution of awards

• Ensuring a reasonable distribution of awards across gender

• Taking into account unusual circumstances or hardships when evaluating employment experience and other aspects of an application, and 

• Prioritizing applicants with limited access to financial resources for graduate studies abroad

The finalists for the scholarship program are then presented to the JJ/WBG Steering Committee, which consists of members of the World Bank Board of Directors and management, for approval. Once approved, the winners are notified of their selection.

Method of Application

See also Application Guideline.

Deadline

May 26 2023.