Compared to the previous years, there were fewer scholars in DC area this year, as more scholars did their internships outsides the US. Four scholars, enrolled in the masters programs at Columbia University, Harvard University, and CERDI, Université d’Auvergne, attended the seminar.

The seminar was opened by Mr. Kamel Braham, the Scholarships Administrator, World Bank Institute, welcoming the scholars. Also present there were Mr. Naohisa Konita, Advisor to Executive Director for Japan. He joined Japan’s Executive Director’s Office in July this year. Mr. Konita appreciated the opportunity to be at the seminar, his first official JJ/WBGSP event since his succession of the position, and to meet with scholars to

The participants took full advantage of this face-to-face interaction to share thoughts with JJ/WBGSP management and Steering Committee members on their experience at the Bank, their career plan after returning to their home countries, and also their thoughts on the administration of the scholarship program based on their own experience with the JJ/WBGSP.

Noel Assemien, Cote d'Ivoire, PEPM, Columbia University

“I am doing my summer internship at the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Program, at the World Bank. It is a public sector program designed by some of the European bilateral donors in partnership with the World Bank, IMF and the European Commission, to help recipients and donors assessing country public expenditures, procurement and financial accountability system. The task assigned to myself was to review existing

I strongly believe that my academic training at PEPM, Columbia University, added value to this assignment accomplishment. The public finance and policy class and the government budgeting chosen as an elective class, have been the best references that helped me performing in this task. The knowledge I gained from this internship at the World Bank will surely be very helpful when I return to my country and work for the budget processing and other fiscal tasks at the Ministry of Finance of Cote d’Ivoire. I would like to thank the Government of Japan and the World Bank for enabling my attainment of excellent academic and professional experiences.”

Mathew Sandy, Sierra Leone, PEPM, Columbia University

The aim of my duty was to estimate the volume of TFs managed by the UN agencies, particularly UNDP and international development banks and identify the purposes of these funds. I also did some regression and correlation analysis on TFs.

One unique skill which the PEPM course equipped me with was to read several complex documents/papers/books, and synthesize their content into one simple document. This skill helped me a lot because, during my internship I read volumes of report and internet publications before making necessary analytical work that will be used to undertake the final research.

I am very much thankful to the Government of Japan and the World Bank for sponsoring my academic training and professional development. Without your funding, it would have been impossible for me to study at one of the world’s best universities. I am strongly convinced that your investment in my education and professional development will be used to the best of my ability to help transform my naturally rich but physically poor country into a better place.”

Yacouba Dit Zonon KONE, Cote d'Ivoire, GPE, CERDI

“After 4 years of professional experience at the Department of Budget and Finance of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Cote d'Ivoire, I was admitted in 2007 to the Program of Economic Policy Management (GPE) at the Center for Studies and Researches on International Development (CERDI) in France. This scholarship gave the opportunity to learn from eminent professors of development economy. I was hence able to take advantage of further

Thanks to CERDI for the quality of its training and to the Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, I was able to achieve one of my dreams of knowing more about the enterprise of development and will now be able to contribute more effectively in the fight against poverty in Africa.”

The result of investment in human capital only starts to be seen from here, after the scholars return to their home countries to serve in the public sector. All the scholars who attended the seminar showed strong keenness in applying their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their post-scholarship careers in their respective governments. Mr. Konita, at the closing of the seminar, articulated it as a “pleasant surprise” after hearing all the scholars and appreciated their efforts in taking and working hard on their opportunities and challenges under the JJ/WBGSP.

See also Lunch Seminar for JJ/WBGSP Alumni
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