IPS programme for the African States
Die Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer des Programmjahres 2023 des IPS-Programmes Afrikanische Staaten südlich der Sahara (DBT)
The German Bundestag invites highly motivated graduates from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana to take part in an annual scholarship programme in Berlin.
The concept
Since 2020, the German Bundestag is offering a scholarship programme for talented young graduates from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana. In 2024 Eastern African countries Kenia, Tansania and Uganda will participate in the program as well. German Bundestag invites scholars with an interest in the German parliamentary system who play an active role in promoting core democratic values in their home countries.
The main focus of the program is on events about the German parliamentary system along with presentations, workshops and seminars on topics such as German history and culture, diversity and the German culture of remembrance.
The programme
The programme takes place each year from January 1 - 31 in Berlin. The core element is a one-week internship with a Member of the German Bundestag.
The focus is also on events about the German parliamentary system along with presentations, workshops and seminars on topics such as German history and culture, freedom of religion, minority issues, comparison of systems and the German culture of remembrance. A workshop on project management aims to support the development of individual project ideas with a view to promoting democracy and civil society in participants’ countries of origin.
The scholarship
Participants will receive a monthly scholarship of 700 euros. The Bundestag will also cover the costs of health, accident and personal liability insurance. In addition, accommodation in an apartment complex (two people sharing) will be provided free of charge, and the costs of travel to and from Berlin will be covered.
The selection process
The scholarship programme is aimed at highly-qualified, committed and capable young women and men from Eastern and Southern Africa who are open to new ideas, interested in politics and wish to play an active and responsible role in shaping the democratic future of their country.
Applicants will be invited to attend an interview at a German diplomatic mission where an independent selection panel set up by the German Bundestag will choose scholars based on their professional, social, language and intercultural skills.
Eligibility criteria
- Citizenship of a participating country
- Under the age of 30 at the start of the scholarship on January 1st
- University degree
- Good knowledge of German (at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF))
- Interest in politics, and social/political commitment
Please send your completed online application documents by email as a PDF-file, with the file name consisting of your surname followed by your given name (i.e. surname-first name), to the German diplomatic mission in your home country.
Your application should be submitted in German and include the following scanned documents:
- Application form;
- Passport photo (please attach this to the first page of the application form);
- Recent language certificate no older than 2 years;
- Letter of motivation in German (maximum of two pages) and signed by you personally;
- Copy of passport or ID card;
- University degree certificate in the original form or a certified copy in English or German.
- Recent letter of recommendation in German or English (from a university professor or employer, assessing the applicant’s qualification for the programme).
Deadline for applications: July 15, 2023
Please apply online to the German diplomatic mission of your home country
Parliamentary coordination
The parliamentary coordination is in the responsibility of the Rapporteur Group on International Exchange Programmes. The President of the German Bundestag is patron of the IPS program.
Contact
For further information, please send an email to: ips@bundestag.de