The AFRIKA KOMMT! Fellowship Programme for 2025/2027 is now open for applications, with the 14th cohort set to begin in Germany in November 2025. This initiative is designed to connect innovative young leaders from Africa with prominent German companies, offering a unique exchange of skills and insights. These organizations benefit from the fellows’ expertise, cultural perspectives, and regional networks, while the participants gain firsthand experience in German business environments, cultural practices, and corporate strategies.

Through this program, talented African professionals embark on a year-long transformative experience aimed at expanding their knowledge, honing new skills, and fostering personal growth beyond their comfort zones. The overarching objective is to empower participants to play a pivotal role in the economic and social development of their home countries, facilitating long-term partnerships with German industry.

Participants are carefully chosen from various African regions, including North Africa, for a year-long professional journey in Germany. The program includes German language training, international management courses, study tours, and an eight-month practical placement within a host company, ensuring an immersive learning experience.

During their stay in Germany, fellows actively engage with their partner companies, benefiting from mentorship and hands-on training. Additional program elements, such as language classes, professional workshops, and networking opportunities coordinated by GIZ, further enrich the experience.

The program’s framework is tailored to foster both professional and personal development. Fellows begin with an intensive German language and cultural orientation to ease their transition into German society and work culture. This is followed by three specialized management training modules that cover global business practices and leadership skills. Fellows then undertake an eight-month practical placement, allowing them to work on projects and gain meaningful work experience. Networking events are held to foster connections between German companies and African leaders, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing. After the fellowship year, participants return home as ambassadors of knowledge transfer. Alumni are invited to participate in refresher courses held either in Germany or Africa to further enhance their skills and strengthen the program’s global network.

The program is organized into three main stages. The first phase involves application and selection, where companies outline the roles they seek to fill, and applicants undergo a comprehensive assessment process. Selected candidates complete a German language course in their home countries before traveling to Germany. The second phase encompasses the one-year residency in Germany, where participants attend language and management training sessions, engage in networking opportunities, and take part in study tours. The final stage sees fellows return to their home countries, armed with new skills, knowledge, and connections to drive change and innovation in their respective fields.

For more information and to apply, please scroll down and click on the provided official link.