Deadline: February 10, 2016
Applications are now open for the 2015-17 AFRIKA KIMMT! Fellowship Programme, an initiative of German Industry for Future Leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa. At the heart of the AFRIKA KOMMT! fellowship program is an eight-month practical training in a leading German enterprise benefiting both, fellows and partner companies – a classic win-win situation.
The program fellows benefit through
- gaining first-hand practical experience in a leading German enterprise
- being exposed to leadership concepts and management techniques in practice
- becoming acquainted with working processes and business culture in German enterprises
- extending their international management competencies
- initiating networks of cooperation partners between Sub-Saharan Africa and German companies
The partner companies benefit through:
- establishing networks of cooperation and trust in promising future markets in Sub-Saharan Africa
- extending their experience with the working and business culture in Sub-Saharan Africa
- improving their knowledge about cultures, markets, countries etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa
After the one-year stay in Germany, all candidates have to return to their home countries. Alumni activities will continue and allow former fellows to extend their networks with other alumni and to mutually benefit from their experiences on an on-going basis. In case a company is interested in extending the cooperation with a candidate beyond the one-year stay in Germany, this has to be arranged bilaterally between the company and the candidate.
Fellowship Structure
- One-month home-based intensive German language preparation course
- One-year stay in Germany comprising of:
- Three-months intensive German language course
- Eight-months internship in a German partner company
- Three one-week training modules on international management and leadership competencies
- One-week study tour in Germany on relevant subjects, e.g. “Regional Economic Development”
- Weekend seminars on cultural and social subjects organised by the Robert Bosch Stiftung in Stuttgart and the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius in Hamburg
- Cultural weekend activities organised by GIZ
- Six-months transfer phase after the stay in Germany via GIZ’s online platform Global Campus 21
- Refresher course in Africa, approx. 6-12 months after the stay in Germany, offering the former fellows to extend their networks with other alumni and to mutually benefit from their experiences
Fellowship Benefits
The AFRIKA KOMMT! fellowship program includes:
- Language course
- An individual German language course before departure to Germany
- An intensive German language course in Germany of three months including fees, accommodation and living allowance
- Traveling expenses – Flights, Visa, etc.
- Visa for Germany for one-year as well as for preparatory session and refresher course in Africa
- Roundtrip airfare from your home town to Germany and back
- Travel to preparatory session
- Travel to refresher course and back
- Program-related traveling expenses in Germany
- Monthly living allowance during the theoretical phase
- Monthly living allowance of € 750,- (August, September and October 2016; July 2017)
- One-off relocation fee of € 1.000,- for settling back into the home countries
- Monthly salary during the internship in the companies of approx. € 1.250,- gross
- Accommodation
- Accommodation during all stages of the program in Germany (including internet allowance, electricity, water and other charges)
- Insurance
- Health, accident and liability insurance
- Trainings
- International management training courses
- Study tour and weekend seminars in Germany
- Alumni activities
- Refresher course in Africa, including management training
- Alumni networking activities Certificate
- Certificate
Eligibility
Candidates need to fulfil the following formal eligibility requirements:
- University degree in a relevant subject (please see individual company profiles below)
- Postgraduate degree (e.g. MBA) an advantage
- Two to five years of relevant work experience
- Excellent English language skills
- Basic knowledge of the German language an advantage
- Not older than 35 years and physically fit
- Female candidates are welcome
Requirements
The AFRIKA KOMMT! fellowship program aims at highly qualified, self-driven young professionals and junior executives from Sub-Saharan Africa with several years of hands-on work experience, strong leadership qualities and a very high level of commitment and dedication.
Besides the specific technical expertise relevant to the partner company, the program requires candidates to have the following set of general skills and attributes:
- Language and communication skills:
- Excellent English skills
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- High willingness to learn German
- Professional skills:
- High leadership potential
- Strong self-motivation and self-starter mentality
- High level of dedication, commitment and target-orientation
- Strong capacity for teamwork
- Personal attributes:
- High level of enthusiasm, flexibility and resilience
- Outstanding intercultural competencies
- Ability to adapt to new environments quickly
For more information and to apply, AFRIKA KOMMT! Fellowship Program.
