Afrika Kommt! A win-win for Germany and Africa

The Afrika Kommt program was developed by a number of German enterprises and the federal government. Due to positive changes in the areas of economic reforms and good governance, broad economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa and an increase in cooperation by Germany on the political level, leaders in German business recognise the continent's potential and the possibilities for further cooperation.

The objective of this pilot programme is to promote the exchange between African future leaders and German Industry, laying a foundation for sustainable economic cooperation in the future.

From over 2000 applicants, 20 promising young African professionals were chosen to come to Germany to participate in a professional training program with 19 leading international firms.

The year-long program focussed on practical professional training at the companies, but also had a significant component committed to formal language training in German. In addition, the participants took part in specialized workshops, met with business leaders and government dignitaries, and will have special services provided to them after returning to their home countries.

There will be a two-week refresher course planned for the group in early 2010.

A look at the Afrika Kommt! programme:
Participants were given a total of five and a half months language training in German. It began with a two-month E-learning course, which was completed in their home countries. The participants then travelled to Kampala, Uganda in September 2008, and took German lessons together at the Goethe-Institut Kampala. Thereafter, the group travelled to Germany and spent the last months of the year in a formal German class in Saarbrücken and Cologne.
Enlarge image Afrika Kommt! participant Juddy Akinyi during her training in Germany (© Judie Kaberia) When the language training was complete, the 20 young men and women were sent to 19 different German companies from January until the end of September 2009 for practical training. Both before and during this part of the programme, theoretical introduction to important aspects of international business was provided through two International Management Training sessions (in December and May). They covered topics such as professional communication, organizational development, change management, organizational concepts, as well as other topics important for their success in the workplace, both in Germany and at home.

The participants were carefully selected and represented  nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Tanzania, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and Ivory Coast. There were eight women in the group.

The dynamic participants were thoughtfully paired with the 19 German companies in the programme, among them successful international giants such as BASF, Volkswagen, SAP, Lufthansa, Siemens, Commerzbank, Daimler, Bosch and Bayer.

During their programme in Germany, the group had a meeting with Federal President Horst Köhler who was instrumental in a number of initiatives devoted to improving the relationship between Germany and Africa.