AFRIKA KOMMT! is a leadership development fellowship that brings young professionals from Africa to Germany for one year of corporate and cultural immersion. It is implemented by GIZ, the German development agency, together with a group of leading German companies and in cooperation with the German Federal President’s office and the Federal Foreign Office. Since 2008 it has hosted 417 fellows from 28 African countries across 34 partner companies.
Fellows build management and leadership skills, gain hands-on experience inside a German company, and join a lasting alumni network. Applications are currently closed; the next application phase opens in February 2027.
Benefits & funding
- All participation costs are covered by the participating German companies.
- Covered items include international airfare, housing, a monthly stipend, training, and language instruction.
- Three management trainings covering intercultural competencies, leadership, project and change management, and conflict management.
- An intensive German language course, plus a preparatory course in the home country before departure.
- An eight-month fellowship placement inside a partner German company, a one-week study tour, weekend seminars, and networking events.
- Continued support through an alumni phase with a one-week refresher course and alumni projects.
Eligibility
- Citizenship of an African state.
- A university degree in a relevant subject; a postgraduate qualification such as an MBA is an advantage.
- Two to five years of relevant work experience.
- Excellent knowledge of English; basic knowledge of German is an advantage.
- Not older than 35 years.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
+ 42 more
DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Education required
Bachelor
Experience required
2–5 yrs
Age requirement
≤ 35 yrs
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Application process
- 1Submit an online application during the application phase (the next one opens in February 2027).
- 2Take part in an assessment centre if shortlisted.
- 3Receive an invitation to Germany on acceptance, followed by a preparatory German course in the home country before the one-year stay begins.
Program timeline
Next application phase opens
February 2027
Assessment centre for shortlisted candidates
Preparatory German course in the fellow’s home country
One-year stay in Germany
language course, management trainings, eight-month company fellowship, study tour
Alumni phase
one-week refresher course and ongoing alumni projects