About RUFORUM:
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), is a consortium of
147 African universities operating in 38 countries on the continent with a mission to ‘strengthen the
capacities of Universities to foster innovations responsive to demands of smallholder farmers through the
training of high quality researchers, the output of impact oriented research and the maintenance of
collaborative working relations among researchers, farmers, national agricultural research institutions’.
RUFORUM was established by Vice Chancellors in 2004 with a Secretariat hosted at Makerere University
in Kampala, Uganda.
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), a network of 147
universities in 38 countries across the African continent won the bid from the African Development Bank
(AfDB) to facilitate the Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Programme a capacity building project
which was initiated in 2017. The programme aims to provide two-year scholarship awards to highly
achieving African graduate students to enable them undergo post-graduate studies (i.e., a two-year
Master’s degree Programme) in selected priority development areas on the continent and Japan. The
JADS Programme will be implemented in several universities in Africa and Japan.
The Japanese Universities participating in the Programme include: The University of Tokyo, Sophia
University, Kyoto University, Hiroshima University, Kyushu University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
and Kogakuin University. The African universities to participate in the JADS Scholarship programme for
2022-23 are the RUFORUM member universities that have the courses being offered under the JADS focus
areas and have the capacity to mentor other universities.
The programme further seeks to promote inter-university collaboration and university-industry
partnerships between Japan and Africa. Upon completion of their studies, JADS scholars are expected to
return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the
public and private sectors, and contribute to national and continental socio-economic development. The
list of selected programs, the application guidelines, and list of eligibility criteria is available on
https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/careers/japan-africa-dream-scholarship-jads-programme. The JADS
Programme is open to applicants from AfDB member countries with relevant professional experience and
a history of contributing to their countries’ development efforts. The eligible candidates are those
applying to a graduate degree programme in include energy, agriculture, health, environmental
sustainability, and engineering and related disciplines. The scholarship programme provides tuition, a
monthly stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance. Upon completion of their
studies, the beneficiaries of the programme are expected to return home to serve their countries.
JADS is awarded to 35 years old or younger applicants who have gained admission to an approved
Master’s degree course at a JADS partner university. Candidates should be; in good health; with a
Press ReleaseBachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the focus area; and have a superior academic record. Female
applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity.
The JADS Programme will add to the current RUFORUM engagements with AfDB, specifically through the
implementation of Sharing Innovations and Experiences from Korea for Higher Education Transformation
in Africa (SIKET) Project which supported by the Republic of Korea.
Please visit www.ruforum.org for more information
