Japanese Grant of JPY 122 Million Bolsters Human Resource Development in the Maldives

Malé, Maldives – June 30, 2023: Japan has made a significant financial contribution to Maldives' educational landscape with a grant aid worth JPY 122 million (approximately USD 890,500) earmarked for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS). The grant aims to empower young, capable Maldivian civil servants with enhanced knowledge and skills for policy formulation and implementation.

This significant gesture was formalized at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where notes for the JDS project were exchanged between Her Excellency Takeuchi Midori, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, and His Excellency Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. The event was also graced by the presence of His Excellency HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, who witnessed this key exchange.

This financial assistance follows the Exchange of Notes signed in August 2020 between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Maldives, which initiated the provision of fully-funded scholarships for Master’s Degree in social sciences for Maldivians at top Japanese universities. The scholarship program, set to run for four years starting from 2020, will select between 5-6 eligible Maldivians annually.

The JDS project's core goal is to support the human resource development of Maldivian civil servants, equipping them with the skills necessary to formulate and implement social and economic development policies effectively. JDS fellows will also be expected to contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Maldives and Japan, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of Japanese culture and society.

The JDS project, running since 1999, has been implemented in 21 partner countries. In the Maldives, the project will be carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Maldives Office in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education of Maldives.

In its enduring commitment to the Maldives, the Government of Japan continues to bolster the archipelago's socio-economic development through such significant initiatives. The JDS project represents another milestone in the strengthening of Maldives-Japan ties, fostering mutual growth and understanding between the two nations.