AFRIKA KOMMT! Fellowship Programme 2023 – 2025

AFRIKA KOMMT!: a flagship initiative of German industry for young, future leaders from Africa

AFRIKA KOMMT! is a fellowship programme that connects visionary African professionals and leading German companies. Together they pave the way for global inclusive business and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The AFRIKA KOMMT! programme combines theory and practice through management trainings and an internship phase in a German company. AFRIKA KOMMT! does not provide academic scholarships for studying in Germany. In addition, it is not an academic degree programme.

The AFRIKA KOMMT! programme is entirely financed by the participating German companies.

As a fellow, all costs related to your participation in the fellowship programme will be covered (flights, accommodation, monthly stipend, trainings, language course).

Germany’s leading businesses joined forces for their vision of sustainable economic cooperation with African countries. Africa is on the rise and is teeming with infinite potential for sustainable economic and social transformation. A brilliance of young promising leaders, female and male, share the vision of ensuring both economic and social success and becoming the backbone of new developments in the German African relationship.

In 2008, nineteen companies, led by Tilman Todenhöfer, former Managing Director of Robert Bosch Industrial Trust KG and supported by the former Federal President Horst Köhler, transformed their vision into action and founded AFRIKA KOMMT!.

The programme AFRIKA KOMMT! brings together the most visionary young leaders from Africa and German companies. Companies benefit from the expertise, knowledge, local network and unique African perspective of the young professionals. The African fellows dive deep into the German corporate specifics, German business spirit and the German culture. Empowered with international experience, technical skills and German language they become African change agents for the sake of both: the German business relations with Africa as well as for economic and social growth in the fellows’ home countries and communities.

The programme entails selection of top tier professionals from all African countries – including North Africa – and facilitating a one year personal and professional transformational journey in Germany. This encompasses German language lessons, international management trainings, study tours and peaks in an 8-month practical training at the host company.

After completion of eight program intakes, the impact is evident: 203 alumni of the programme are transferring their knowledge and experience to their home countries. They are leading projects, businesses, and change initiatives through German-African cooperation. In addition, more than half of the young experts continue to work for their partner companies in Africa or Germany. They are driving diversity and innovation within the companies, creating new products, opening new offices in Africa, growing existing markets and boosting the local, African and global network.

The Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier supports AFRIKA KOMMT! and acknowledges the initiative through a reception of the young leaders. The programme also receives active support from the German Federal Foreign Office and the German embassies in Africa. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is commissioned by the companies to organise and implement the programme.

Learn about the Success Stories of the Programme

What does the programme entail?

At the core of the AFRIKA KOMMT! programme is a one-year stay for the African professionals in Germany. During this time, the fellows actively work in their partner companies where they are trained and mentored. Other components organized by GIZ such as language courses, trainings and networking events supplement the learning experience.

• Professional and tailor-made selection process: The fellows of the programme are chosen in a comprehensive selection process that is implemented in close cooperation with the participating companies.
• Language and cultural integration for fellows: The programme begins with German language and cultural integration courses to prepare the fellows for their stay in Germany. The fellows also get an opportunity to visit cultural heritage sites within Germany.
• Management training for fellows: The fellows undergo three modules of intense management training where they advance their knowledge of modern global management practices.
• Professional fellowship in partner company: The young experts spend eight months with their partner companies and are engaged in projects and meaningful work experience.
• AFRIKA KOMMT! Network: The partner companies and the African professionals come together at various networking events, share expertise and drive common projects.
• Alumni phase: After their one-year stay in Germany, the fellows become knowledge and skill transfer ambassadors as alumni in their home countries. A one-week refresher course in Germany or in Africa advances the skill set of the alumni and fosters continued strengthening of the AFRIKA KOMMT! network.

A Comprehensive Programme in Three Phases 

Selection and Preparation

• Definition of fellowship profiles by the companies
• Application phase
• Selection of the candidates for the Assessment Center
• Assessment Center and final selection of fellows
• Preparatory German course in home country for fellows

One-Year Stay in Germany

• Intensive German language course
• 3 Management Trainings (Focus: Intercultural Competencies, Leadership, Project and Change Management, Conflict Management)
• 8-month fellowship in the partner company
• One-week study tour
• Weekend Seminars
• Networking events
• Farewell ceremony with the Federal Foreign Office

Alumni Phase 

A Comprehensive Programme in Three Phases 

Selection and Preparation

• Definition of fellowship profiles by the companies
• Application phase
• Selection of the candidates for the Assessment Center
• Assessment Center and final selection of fellows
• Preparatory German course in home country for fellows

One-Year Stay in Germany

• Intensive German language course
• 3 Management Trainings (Focus: Intercultural Competencies, Leadership, Project and Change Management, Conflict Management)
• 8-month fellowship in the partner company
• One-week study tour
• Weekend Seminars
• Networking events
• Farewell ceremony with the Federal Foreign Office

Alumni Phase 

• One-week refresher course
• Participation in AFRIKA KOMMT! events
• Alumni projects
• Continous networking

How do I join?

Three steps to join the programme as a fellow

1 Apply online during the application phase

2 Get selected for the assessment center

3 Receive the invitation to Germany

How to submit your application

Step 1

Check the general candidate requirements – do you fit the criteria and are you eligible for the programme?

Step 2

Check the available fellowship placements and required profiles for the new intake of AFRIKA KOMMT!.

The fellowship placements will only be available during the application phase.

Your application will be considered for the AFRIKA KOMMT! programme as a whole, however you are asked to select maximum 2 profiles in the application form and to give reasons for your choice.

Step 3

Register on https://application.afrika-kommt.de and fill in the application form in English.

Applications in other languages will not be considered.

In addition to filling the application form, you will be asked to upload a short presentation about your motivation, an idea for a change initiative, a photo and your certificates.

About the idea for a change initiative:

One of the aims of AFRIKA KOMMT! is to build a platform that supports young African professionals to design change initiatives that seek to solve social and economic challenges in their countries.  Please think for an idea for a change initative that you would like to implement in your country. You will be asked four questions about your idea in the application form.

Step 4

Submit your application before the  26th MARCH 2023– applications submitted after this date cannot be considered.

Application submitted – what happens next?

You will receive feedback on your application within approx. 8-12 weeks after the official end of the application period. The partner companies may contact you to do a short telephone interview with you. If your application has successfully passed the pre-selection stage, you will receive an invitation to a 2-days assessment centre.

The AFRIKA KOMMT! Assessment Centre

The assessment centre includes a number of tasks, group activities and presentations and serves as a basis for the final decision. The results of the assessment centre will be communicated within a few weeks and successful candidates will then receive the invitation to Germany for one year!

The 12th intake will start in November 2023 in Germany.