Germany 2013 – Namibia 2014: Fellowship Program for Students and young Professionals from Germany and Southern Africa

By organising a five-week exchange programme – which, on the original initiative of the former Federal President Dr. Horst Köhler, is implemented for the seventh time – the Partnership with Africa Foundation e.V. intends to help overcome the lack of knowledge that exists between African reality and German perception and, vice versa, between German reality and African perception. The personal, intercultural encounter between young and upcoming academics and the interdisciplinary exchange are aimed at promoting advanced professional training and at acquiring multipliers for a German-African future that is based on the spirit of partnership.

The fellowship holders are invited to take part in an education programme that will encompass talks with political decision-makers, journalists, academics, and other personalities from civil society and business from both countries. Participants are moreover given the opportunity to take part in political and cultural events and excursions. Thereby, participants contribute towards implementing the programme by assisting in organising lectures and facilitating group discussions. In addition, they will also work on a common study paper focussing on an academic subject. The latter will be prepared during the programme phase in Germany and written between September 2013 and April 2014. As members of a vibrant Alumni network, the participants are moreover highly encouraged to stay involved after the programme by developing and implementing German-African partnership projects.

Eligibility

The programme is directed at students and young graduates from Germany and Southern Africa and will be held in English. Applicants should be between 21 and 28 years old and be studying or have a degree in political science, modern history, international relations, economics, business administration, African studies, cultural studies, media and communication studies, law, or equivalent academic programmes. The number of participants is limited to 24, twelve from Southern African countries and twelve from Germany. Please note that there will be an obligatory preparatory seminar for German participants from 21 to 22 June 2013. A further condition for receiving a grant is that applicants must be able to participate for the entire period. A willingness to take part in an intensive and compact programme schedule as well as continued commitment is expected.

Subject to the granting of funds, all basic programme costs will be covered. However, the Partnership with Africa Foundation e.V. is neither able to cover the German participants’ costs for obtaining visas nor for vaccinations. The acceptance of African participants to the programme only becomes final when the German Embassy in the participant’s home country has issued the relevant visa. It is not possible to legally claim participation in the programme.

Interested individuals are welcome to apply to the Partnership with Africa Foundation e.V. by submitting an essay comprising a maximum of three A4 pages (approx. 6.000 characters) written in English. The essay focusing on one of the three topics outlined below must be accompanied by a letter of motivation comprising no more than one A4 page, a curriculum vitae in tabular form, and a photograph. The following information must be provided: surname, first name, gender, date of birth, profession and/or field of study, place of study, place of work, and place of residence. Applicants are also asked to issue a declaration stating that they wrote the essay without any help from third parties. Direct and indirect citations must be marked and referenced as such and the source must be named. Plagiarism will disqualify an applicant from consideration.

Application deadline: 1 April 2013.

Please e-mail your full application package (essay, letter of motivation, CV incl. photograph) to: