AFRIKA KOMMT fellowship programme in Germany
About The Programme
The programme AFRIKA KOMMT! brings together the most visionary young leaders from Africa and leading 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.
Why should I join?
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 programme provides an unparalleled opportunity to young, talented African professionals for a one year career and life transformational experience.
As a participant of AFRIKA KOMMT! you will:
- Achieve personal growth
- Refine your leadership and management competence
- Access networks and opportunities for career acceleration
- Improve your intercultural competence
- Broaden your perspective and stir up innovation
What should I know about the Programme?
AFRIKA KOMMT! is a programme for young, extraordinary African professionals who wish to expand the horizons of their skills, knowledge and experience and are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone to do so! We strive to facilitate young leaders to drive economic and social development of their countries by promoting sustainable cooperation with German industry.
Through a one year fellowship, AFRIKA KOMMT! equips young professionals with the skills, exposure and inspiration they need to become the next generation of African leaders. The programme is structured in three different phases.
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 the home country for fellows
One-Year Stay in Germany
- Intensive German language course
- 3 Management Training (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
- Continuous networking
What does the Fellowship offer?
Language Course
- An individual German language course before departure to Germany
- An intensive German language course in Germany including fees, accommodation and living allowance
Professional Fellowship in Partner Company
- 8-month fellowship in the partner company
- training and mentoring provided by the partner company
Training
- International management training courses
- Study tour
- Weekend seminars
Alumni activities
- Refresher course in Germany or Africa, including management training
- Alumni networking activities
- Support for alumni projects
Travelling expenses
- Visa for Germany for one year
- Roundtrip airfare from your home town to Germany and back
- Travel to refresher course and back
- Programme-related travelling expenses in Germany
Monthly living allowance or salary
- Monthly living allowance of €900,- (months 1-3, month 12)
- Monthly salary during the internship in the companies of approx. € 1.500,- gross
- One-off relocation fee of € 1.000,- for settling back into your home country
Important note:
The monthly allowance of € 750,- and the salary ensures an adequate standard of living in Germany. However, the amount is not sufficient to provide financial support for families or relatives and for this reason, they cannot accompany you to Germany.
Accommodation
Accommodation during all stages of the programme in Germany (including internet allowance, electricity, water and other charges).
Insurance
- Health insurance during months 1-3 and months 12
- Accident and liability insurance
Certificate
AFRIKA KOMMT! is a practice-oriented fellowship programme. You will receive two certificates: One official certificate upon successful completion of the programme with a detailed description of the specific contents and components of the training and a certificate by the Academy for International Cooperation of GIZ GmbH by successful completion of the professional training in the tool “International Competence Development Journal”.
Am I eligible?
To apply for the programme you must:
- Be a Citizen of any African country
- Have a University degree in a relevant subject
- Postgraduate degree (e.g. MBA) is an advantage
- Have two to five years of work experience
- Have excellent English language skills
- Basic knowledge of the German language is an advantage
- Not be older than 35 years at the time of application
Further Selection Criteria
In addition to the above technical and educational requirements, you should also have the following skills and attributes:
Language and communication 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
- Open mindset
- Outstanding intercultural competencies
- Ability to adapt to new environments quickly
- Ability to reflect own behaviour and bias
Our Partner Companies
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 following companies are current participants in the ongoing intakes:
B. Braun SE
Location
Melsungen
Website
Through Sharing Expertise and the power of technology we drive advancements in health care. As a true partner we develop smart solutions and set standards to improve health care.
Our brand is B. Braun – Sharing Expertise. Our brand demonstrates what drives us, how we achieve our goals, what we stand for, what sustains us, and how we communicate with our communities.
BioNTech SE
Location
Mainz
Website
BioNTech was founded in 2008 on the understanding that every cancer patient’s tumor is unique and therefore each patient’s treatment should be individualized. To translate this idea into reality, we have combined ground-breaking research with cutting-edge technologies to develop pioneering therapeutics for cancer and beyond. As we prove the value of our approach in the clinic, we will continue to build the partnerships, manufacturing and team required to bring individualized treatments to patients worldwide. From our roots in Mainz, Germany, we are driven to become the leading global biotechnology company for individualized cancer medicine.
BioNTech is a next-generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer, infectious and other serious diseases. Its COVID- 19 vaccine is an important milestone. The aim of the company and its core business model is to provide these novel therapies to patients worldwide and thus, help to improve their lives.
BioNTech is committed to being transparent, acting with integrity, protecting the environment and respecting human rights. These values form the unchanging basis of the company’s work.
Robert Bosch GmbH
Location
Stuttgart
Website
Robert Bosch GmbH is a German company founded in 1886 by Robert Bosch with a large of number of company headquarters in Stuttgart. With locations on all continents of the world, the Bosch Group has now developed into an international company. The Bosch Group currently consists of around 450 subsidiaries and regional companies in 60 countries. The company is divided into four divisions: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods und Energy and Building Technology. Bosch now has around 400,000 employees worldwide and achieved sales of 77. 7 billion euros in 2019. Various business units of the Bosch Group, such as Power Tools and Automotive Aftermarkets, participate in the program Afrika Kommt!. For our sales offices in Africa, we are looking for local talent driving growth into the African market. Start something big and become part of a global network of thought leaders and trailblazers where you can create remarkable things: technology for life.
Volkswagen AG
Location
Wolfsburg, Germany
Website
https://www.volkswagenag.com/en.html
The Volkswagen Group, headquartered in Wolfsburg, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automobiles and commercial vehicles and the largest carmaker in Europe. With our brands, business units and financial services, we are shaping the zero-emission and autonomous future of mobility.
SAP SE
Location
Walldorf, Germany
Website
SAP started in 1972 as a team of five colleagues with a desire to do something new. Together, they changed enterprise software and reinvented how business was done. Today we remain true to our roots. That’s why we engineer solutions to fuel innovation, foster equality and spread opportunity for our employees and customers across borders and cultures. SAP is the market share leader in enterprise resource planning (ERP), analytics, supply chain management, human capital management as well as experience management and customer experience. With SAP customers generating 87% of total global commerce, SAP data is among a company’s most valuable business assets. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers’ businesses into intelligent enterprises. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables our customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of 440.000 customers, 22.000+ partners,100+ development locations worldwide, >110.000 employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improves people’s lives. Through our SAP Purpose Network, we connect people and information to discover solutions to pressing global issues, at scale. Together, we can transform industries, grow economies, lift up societies, and sustain our environment.
36 fellowship positions from 9 companies – the 14th AFRIKA KOMMT! intake is waiting for you! Apply by March 23, 2025.
