Introduction 

Recognizing the critical role of qualified human resources in advancing social progress and sustainable development, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has, since its establishment, placed strong emphasis on human capital development alongside its core development financing activities. 

In response to the need to strengthen the human resources of Muslim communities in non-Member Countries (non-MCs), IsDB launched its Undergraduate Scholarship Program in 1983 under the title Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities (SPMC). 

Building on a decade of experience with the SPMC, IsDB established the Merit Scholarship Program (MSP) in 1992 to support Ph.D. studies and post-doctoral research in applied sciences and high technology, with the aim of strengthening the scientific, technological, and research capacities of institutions in Member Countries (MCs). Subsequently, in 1998, IsDB launched the Master of Science Scholarship Program (M.Sc.) as a feeder program for the MSP, recognizing that 20 of the Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs) had been unable to benefit from the latter. In 2019, IsDB launched the ICF Undergraduate Scholarship Program for LDMCs.