Policy Studies in Japan: Scholarships for Young Nepali Government Officials (July 12, 2021)

JEINF No.27 -2021                                                                                                    

 

(Kathmandu, July 12^th): The Government of Japan has extended grant assistance of up to three hundred and fifty-six million Japanese Yen (¥356,000,000) to the Government of Nepal for implementing the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS: originally called as Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship). His Excellency, Mr. KIKUTA Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mr. Sishir Kumar Dhungana, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance signed notes to this effect today.  Another set of grant agreements for implementing the program was signed by Ms. ASAKUMA Yumiko, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal, and Mr. Dhani Ram Sharma, Joint Secretary, the International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance.
 
This JDS grant offers scholarships for up to 22 young Nepali government officials to study in Japanese universities for the future policy planning and governance of Nepal. The studies are for two-year Master Degree courses and three-year Doctoral level research courses. After completion of their studies, the JDS Fellows are expected to contribute towards policy-making of Nepali socio-economic development. Since 2016, 102 Nepali JDS Fellows have studied under this scheme. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 22 selected officials had to commence their respective courses online.  Twenty of them later decided to travel to Japan to complete their studies and two officials decided to continue their studies online from Nepal.
 
Ambassador KIKUTA has expressed his hope that the JDS fellows will put forward the social and economic development of Nepal for future generations, using the knowledge and experiences they gain in Japan efficiently for the advancement of society. He is looking forward to learning about the contributions made by the JDS fellows for the Nepal Government’s various policies and projects, leading to the increased prosperity of Nepal.  The Ambassador points out that the progress of the post-COVID society will be hands of young Nepali government officials, particularly those who study in Japan. The Embassy of Japan would like to work with them for further strengthening the great relationship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.