JDS (the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship) began accepting applications for master’s degree program for 2019.  The promotional seminar and explanatory meeting for potential applicants were held at the Agency of Civil Service on November 12, according to JICA Tajikistan Office.

Successful JDS fellows enter a two-year master’s course in Japanese universities and are granted with the full scholarship including tuition fee, monthly scholarship, air fare and so on.  Launched to strengthen the government’s administrative capacities in the Republic of Tajikistan, the project accepts staff working for specific public organizations called JDS Target Organizations.  The list on these organizations and other requirements can be found on JDS Website (http://jds-scholarship.org/country/tajikistan/index.html).  The application deadline will be December 21st, 2018.  The explanatory meetings about the application will be conducted at each targeted organization and Regions Administrative Offices of Sughd and Khatlon within November 2018.


At the promotional seminar and special explanatory meeting for women, Ms. Ayubi, the Deputy Director of ACS, delivered encouraging words to the potential applicants.  In the main part of the seminar, two JDS Alumni, namely Ms. Shirin Amonzoda from the Tourism Development Committee and Mr. Dilshod Kimsanov from the Agency on Land Reclamation and Irrigation made presentations about their academic achievements and experience through their study in Japan, and their career path after return to Tajikistan.  At the closing remark, Mr. Tanabe, the Chief Representative of JICA Tajikistan Office, inspired the participants, emphasizing the application to the project as a chance to expand the view by knowing Japanese culture and gain great knowledge to contribute to the development of the country.

Following the seminar, the meeting specially arranged for female potential applicants was conducted. Ms. Ayubi explained the importance of active contribution of female staff for public organizations and encouraged women to apply for the project.  Two female JDS Alumni, Ms. Shirin Amonzoda and Ms. Nigora Lashkarova shared their experience in Japan from the viewpoints of women to mitigate possible anxiety of female applicants.

The objectives of JDS are to support human resource development of the Republic of Tajikistan targeting young government officials and to strengthen the bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Japan.  This project is characterized by its elaborated framework which designates the fields of research and graduate schools focusing on important development issues in Tajikistan.  JDS scholars are expected to be leaders of the country, and to engage in formulating and implementing social and economic development policies using their gained academic knowledge and skills.  As of now, 52 scholars for the master’s program and 2 scholars for a doctoral program were dispatched to Japan and 16 of them are currently studying at universities in Japan. 38 scholars returned to Tajikistan with their master’s degrees and contribute to the development of Tajikistan after their coming back.  The project is executed by ACS with the financial support by the government of Japan. Coordination of the project is facilitated by Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) under the supervision of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Only government officials who belong to designated governmental organizations can apply for this scholarship.  Apart from JDS, the Government of Japan provides several scholarship and training programs in Tajikistan such as Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarships and JICA short-term trainings.

JICA began its technical cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by inviting Tajik officials to gain knowledge and experience on governance and macroeconomics development.  As of January 2018, a total number of participants to JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Programs, formerly called the Training Programs, has exceeded 2100 people.  JICA Office was established in 2006 in Tajikistan and since then various Grant Financial Assistance and Technical Cooperation projects have been implemented more dynamically, aiming at improving living standard of Tajik people for the sectors such as agriculture and rural development, water supply, health, transport, energy, capacity building as well as SME promotion.  JICA’s cumulative investment portfolio in Tajikistan in all sectors comprises 34 projects amounting to more than 345 million USD (82 million USD for Technical Cooperation and 263 million USD for Grant Assistance), including 12 on-going projects.