
The ASEAN-Japan Centre is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the Programme Associate (Cohort 2), a three-year Talent Nurturing Fellowship Programme for highly motivated individuals from Japan and ASEAN Member States.
1. Message from the Secretary General
Your journey does not only begin with you – it begins with the people you will serve, the communities you will uplift, and the future you will help to shape. Each step you take toward growth is also a step toward building a more inclusive, sustainable, and connected world.
This programme is created for people like you—young, motivated, and full of potential—who are ready to take their first bold step into an international and multidisciplinary career. It is not simply about opening doors for yourself; it is about walking through those doors with courage and conviction, ready to bring change, to inspire others, and to make a positive difference for your community, your country, and for the ASEAN–Japan region as a whole.
Through this programme, you will gain real and practical experience. You will design, plan, and implement programmes that matter. You will learn how to transform ideas into action, and how to translate your passion into tangible impact. These are not just skills for a job – they are lifelong tools that will empower you to contribute to something larger than yourself, and they will continue to grow with you, opening new horizons throughout your life.
But more than skills, this programme is about transformation. It is about who you become. It is an invitation to challenge yourself, to nurture resilience, and to discover the strength that comes from working for others as well as for yourself. Along the way, you will find mentors and companions who will guide, support, and inspire you as you step into new responsibilities and turn challenges into opportunities.
This is not just a programme – it is a calling to rise to your potential, to embrace your role as a bridge-builder, and to step forward with purpose. The future needs your vision, your energy, and your heart.
I look forward to walking this journey with you.
Kunihiko HIRABAYASHI
Secretary General, ASEAN-Japan Centre
2. Terms of Reference and How to Apply
For details of the recruitment conditions and procedures, please refer to the Terms of Reference of the Programme Associate (Cohort 2).
Application due date is 30 September 2025 (Tuesday) JST.
3. Voice from Programme Associate (Cohort 1)
“Serving as a Programme Associate at the ASEAN-Japan Centre has been a quietly transformative chapter in my professional life. Over the past year, I’ve broadened my horizons, gaining practical skills, deepening my knowledge, and experiencing invaluable cross-cultural exchange. Most meaningful was the chance to make a tangible difference by working with stakeholders across the region to help amplify voices too often left unheard, such as smallholder farmers, women entrepreneurs, and youth.
These experiences placed me at the intersection of policy and people, where international cooperation connects with the lived realities of countless communities across Southeast Asia. What sets AJC apart is its role as a non-partisan platform, creating an inclusive space for diverse perspectives to be heard and respected.
Knowing that our efforts strengthen the ASEAN-Japan partnership while advancing greater inclusion has been both inspiring and deeply rewarding. For early-career professionals from ASEAN who aspire to grow while contributing to real change, this is a truly valuable place to begin.”(Comment by Razel, Programme Associate, Cohort 1)
4. Inquiries
For any inquiries regarding this three-year Talent Nurturing Fellowship Programme,
please contact the Office of General Affairs at the ASEAN-Japan Centre via e-mail.