Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) APPLICATION GUIDELINES FOR 2016 JJ/WBGSP SCHOLARSHIP FOR JAPANESE NATIONALS*

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1 Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) APPLICATION GUIDELINES FOR 2016 JJ/WBGSP SCHOLARSHIP FOR JAPANESE NATIONALS* *Attention! These Guidelines are valid only for applicants who are Japanese nationals. I. Overview: The JJ/WBGSP provides scholarships for no more than a two-year duration to a limited number of Japanese mid-career professionals who have been admitted to or are currently enrolled in a master s or PhD graduate degree program outside of Japan and in development-related fields. Most scholarships are awarded to applicants planning to work in international development organizations. Please note applicants are encouraged (but not required) to seek admissions in institutions listed in the website under our preferred and partnership programs. Benefits: The scholarship is fully funded by the Government of Japan, and provides for each scholarship recipient the following benefits during the scholarship period: Economy class air travel from his/her home country to the host university at the start of the scholar period. If at the end of the scholarship period the scholar has completed all requirements to earn the graduate degree, the scholarship will also fund economy class air travel from the host university to Japan or a developing country where the scholar has secured employment. For the duration of the scholarship period, tuition for his/her graduate program and the cost of basic medical insurance usually obtained through the university. While on campus during the scholarship period, a monthly subsistence allowance to cover living expenses, including books. The amount of the allowance varies depending on the host country. The JJ/WBGSP scholarship does not cover: Family expenses, including costs to bring and support family members; ; Extra-curricular courses or training; Language training not provided by the graduate program; Additional travel during the course of the scholarship period;

2 Expenses related to research, supplementary educational materials, field trips, participation in workshops/seminars, or internships; or Educational equipment such as computers. Note: The JJ/WBGSP scholarship may only supplement, and does not duplicate, any other source of financial support (i.e.. sponsorship, scholarship, fellowship, etc.) you might have. If selected as a finalist or if you are awarded a scholarship, you must inform the JJ/WBGSP if there are other institutions funding you during your studies, the amount of funding, and the uses of the funds. The JJ/WBGSP stipend may be withdrawn completely or partially if during the scholarship period the Program has evidence of undeclared institutions funding you during your studies. Selection Criteria: For those applicants who meet all application requirements (see requirements below), the following process and criteria are used to review completed applications, with the aim of identifying the candidates most likely to contribute to the field of development after completing their graduate studies. Step 1: Two qualified assessors independently review each eligible application and score the application on a scale of 1 to 10, taking into account three main factors and the degree of cohesion among them: (i) Quality of Academic Experience and Recommendations (20% weight) (ii) Quality of Professional Experience and Recommendations (40% weight) (iii) Quality of the Completed Application Form (40% weight) Note the relatively lower weight for academic excellence is because the eligibility criteria of admission to a graduate program pre-screens for academic excellence. The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat uses the average score of the two reviewers and the following other aspects of JJ/WBGSP s objectives to select the finalists: Maintaining a reasonable distribution of awards across gender taking into account the distribution of eligible applications across gender Giving scholarships to those applicants who, other things being equal, appear to have limited financial resources Step 2: For each applicant selected as a finalist, the applicant will be requested by JJWBGSP Secretariat to obtain and submit via (i) Within 5 business days of notification of finalists status, a scanned copy of the identification page of the applicant s Passport or other legal document (birth or marriage certificate) that indicates nationality and date of birth, with the name IDENTICAL to the one submitted on the application form.; and (ii) At least 17 business days before traveling to the university or in the case the scholar is already studying at least 17 business days before the scholarship period begins, a scanned copy of a certificate from a medical doctor that is less than three months old and states the scholar is in good health with respect to the capacity to be a productive scholar on a continuous full-time basis for the duration of the scholarship period. Step 3: The finalists are presented to the JJ/WBGSP Steering Committee (composed of members of the World Bank Board of Directors and WB management) for final review and selection of the winners of the award. The Secretariat informs the scholarship winners by the end of July. II. Application Requirements include: 1. Meeting the following eligibility criteria:

3 Be a Japanese national Be under the age of 45 on the Application Deadline date Hold a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent university degree) earned at least three years prior to the Application Deadline Be in good health (required documentation noted above) Have at least 3 years of full-time paid development-related experience since earning a Bachelor s degree (or equivalent university degree) and within the past six years from the date of the Application Deadline Not employed by the Government of Japan or its related agencies, including local governments and the Central Bank at the time of application Not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of all types of appointments of the World Bank Group (The World Bank, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and International Center for Settlements of Investment Disputes), or a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term "close relative" defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew Have not received any scholarship funds from the Government of Japan to help finance a graduate degree 2. Be currently enrolled in or by May 12, 2016, have been unconditionally accepted (except for the condition of funding) into a master s or PhD program outside of Japan in an area of study related to development listed in Box Submit the online Application Form in English by noon, Washington D.C time (Eastern Standard Time/EST) on March 10, Submit in one package all the required documentation, with the package postmarked by the Application Deadline of March 20, 2016 to: The World Bank Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 1818 H Street, N.W. MSN-J4-402 Washington D.C USA Please note: The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat is not responsible for any possible delay in mail delivery. Individuals who submit more than one application will be disqualified. Applications are not held over to the following year. Incomplete applications are not processed.

4 Box 1: Development-related Fields of Study Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions: o Finance and Markets o Governance o Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management o Poverty and Equity o Trade and Competitiveness Human Development o Education o Health, Nutrition, Population o Social Protection and Labor Sustainable Development o Agriculture o Energy and Extractives o Environment and Natural Resources o Sound Urban and Rural Resilience o Transport and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) o Water Cross Cutting Development Issues o Climate Change o Gender o Jobs (strategies, policies and regulatory reforms to address issues of informal sector employment and impediments to job creation) o Fragility, Conflict and Violence o Public-Private Partnerships (capacity building and/or policy advice for regulatory and institutional reforms that enhance the reach and quality of public services) III. Guidance on Application Form If an applicant fails to answer all mandatory questions in the application form, the applicant will not be eligible for a scholarship. All questions in the application form are mandatory unless optional is indicated in the question, or the question contains a clause if. and that clause is not applicable to your circumstances. For example, if an applicant has not completed a graduate degree, then the applicant does not have to complete the follow-up questions regarding graduate degrees. The symbol * next to a question in the application indicates this information is required to complete and submit the application form. But due to software / programming constraints, not all required questions have a *. Once the application form is submitted online, the applicant will receive within 2 business days an from the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat informing the applicant of his/her application

5 identification number. The application number is needed to complete and submit the package of required documentation. Please note: the application form must be completed at least three business days before the Application Deadline to assure the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat has sufficient time to provide you with the applicant ID# that you will need to submit hardcopy documents by postal mail. IV. Guidance on Required Documentation Documents mailed to the JJ/WBGSP cannot be returned. Therefore, copies of all supporting documentation and not the originals should be sent. Please note: originals may be requested at a later date if needed. The following documents are required at the time of application: 1. Cover Form for the Required Documentation. Please print and fill-in the form attached to these guidelines as Annex A current curriculum vitae (C.V.). This should not exceed two pages, and should be written in English. 3. If available, a copy of the official letter of acceptance to at least one graduate program related to development. The acceptance should be unconditional or conditional only upon securing funding. Please note a letter of acceptance to a master program conditional upon fulfilling the university s language testing requirement does not meet this requirement. If a document is not in English, Spanish, or French, the applicant should submit both the copy of the required document and a translation in English. The translation does not need to be certified. 4. Proof of employment for each record of employment noted in the application form. If a document is not in English, the applicant should submit both the copy of the required document and a translation in English. The translation does not need to be certified. 5. Certified copy of a certificate of the applicant s most advanced university degree earned and corresponding transcript of grades. If a document is not in English, the applicant should submit both the copy of the required document and a translation in English. The translation does not need to be certified. 6. Two academic recommendations and two professional recommendations. There are two recommendation forms one for academic recommenders (Annex 2 of these guidelines) and one for professional recommenders (Annex 3 of these guidelines). Please print out these forms, complete the box asking for your name, and distribute the appropriate form to each of your four required recommenders.

6 No more than two professional and two academic recommenders are permitted. Advice: Applicants should obtain the recommendations as soon as possible so as to give sufficient time to meet the Application Deadline. All recommendations should, if at all possible, be written in English. It is strongly recommended at least one professional recommendation be from a current or former supervisor. V. Communications The World Bank Tokyo office will not respond to phone calls or any other inquiries regarding the application process. Inquiries should be addressed to: scholarshipapplicants@worldbank.org. However, we will not provide an answer to a question that is clearly stated in the guidelines or the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Before you send us a question by , please review the guidelines and FAQs. The Scholarship Program s Secretariat will not answer any regarding the application process that is submitted less than three business days before the Application Deadline. To avoid any last minute issues please try to submit your application at least one-week ahead of the deadline. Applications or recommendations sent by fax or are not accepted.

7 Required Documentation Cover Form Annex 1 1. APPLICANT ID # (provided by JJWBGSP Secretariat after application form is submitted) 2. APPLICANT NAME 3. CHECK ALL ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE YOU ARE SENDING TO JJWBGSP o This Cover Form o Applicant s Curriculum vitae (C.V.) o If available, a copy of the official letter of acceptance to at least one graduate program (and translation if applicable) o Copy of the identification page of the applicant s Passport or other legal document. o Proof of employment for each record of employment noted in the application form (and translation if applicable). o Certified copy of a certificate of the applicant s most advanced university degree earned and corresponding transcript of grades (and translation if applicable). o Two academic and two professional recommendations, each in a sealed envelope with the signature of the recommender across the sealed flap.

8 ANNEX 2 Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship for Japanese Nationals ACADEMIC Recommendation Form (page 1 of 2) To the Recommender: Background information on this scholarship program can be found on The information you are providing on this form concerning the belownamed applicant is an important part of the Scholarship Program s review process. Your letter of recommendation is confidential. Please complete PART II in English, making sure you sign and date the form, and use separate paper to answer questions 1-5 listed on page 2 of this form. Return the completed recommendation, including this form, to the applicant in a sealed envelope with your signature across the flap. The applicant needs to submit your letter to our Program office by the postmarked date of March 20, PART I (To be completed by applicant) Name of Applicant Surname/Family/Last Name: First / Given Name: Middle Name (if applicable): PART II: LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION (To be completed by recommender) II. Identification and Signature Recommender s Signature Date Recommender s Name: Title: Institution / Organization: Work Address (Street, City, Country): Work Telephone (preferably work):

9 Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship for Japanese Nationals ACADEMIC Recommendation Form (page 2 of 2) III. Questionaire: Please answer the following questions. For questions 3-5, please number your responses accordingly. There is no restriction regarding the number of words you use. 1. How many years have you known the applicant in an academic setting? Years (rounded up) 2. Marking an X on this scale below, rate this applicant relative to his/her classmates: ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AVERAGE TOP 25% TOP 10% TOP 5% TOP 2% INTELLECTURAL PERFORMANCE CREATIVITY / ORIGINALITY 3. Describe the applicant s academic strengths using concrete examples of situations when these attributes were witnessed by you. Please provide academic achievements, including any specific academic honors and awards or publications that you are aware of. (There is no restriction on the number of words for your response). 4. Assess and describe the basis of your assessment of the applicant s academic potential and ability to handle a graduate study program and advanced research work in a competitive international environment. 5. Please feel free to share any other information / insights you think may be helpful in the review of this application, including any reason you would hesitate to recommend this applicant for the scholarship.

10 ANNEX 3 Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship for Japanese Nationals PROFESSIONAL Recommendation Form (page 1 of 2) To the Recommender: Background information on this scholarship program can be found on The information you are providing on this form concerning the below-named applicant is an important part of the Scholarship Program s review process. Your letter of recommendation is confidential. Please complete PART II in English, making sure you sign and date the form, and use separate paper to answer questions 1-3 listed on page 2 of this form. Return the completed recommendation, including this form, to the applicant in a sealed envelope with your signature across the flap. The applicant needs to submit your letter to our Program office by the postmarked date of March 20, PART I (To be completed by applicant) Name of Applicant Surname/Family/Last Name: First / Given Name: Middle Name (if applicable): PART II: LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION II. Identification and Signature Recommender s Signature Date Recommender s Name: Title / Position at work: Institution / Organization: Address (Street, City, Country): Work Telephone: Work (for verification purposes):

11 Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship for Japanese Nationals PROFESSIONAL Recommendation Form (page 2 of 2) III. Questionnaire Please answer the following questions. For questions 3-5, please number your responses accordingly. There is no restriction regarding the number of words you use. 1. Indicate below which option best describes your most recent position vis-à-vis the applicant in the work environment. I am the applicant s: o Supervisor o Peer o Subordinate o Client or Partner o Other (please specify) 2. How many years have you known the applicant in a professional work environment? (Do not count time when the applicant was a student). Years (round up) 3. Describe the applicant s professional strengths and achievements using concrete examples of situations when these attributes were witnessed by you. If applicable, we would also be interested in details about the applicant s participation in development projects and professional recognition and awards. 4. If you have witnessed any concrete examples that demonstrate the applicant s commitment to a development-focused professional career please describe example(s) here and your assessment of such commitment. 5. Please feel free to share any other information / insights you think may be helpful in the review of this application, including any reason you would hesitate to recommend this applicant for the scholarship.