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Germany Short Course Partial Funding

Horst Köhler Fellowship 2027 | Southern African-German Journalists’ Exchange

The Horst Köhler Fellowship enables journalists from Southern Africa and Kenya to spend two months working with German media outlets, fostering cross-cultural understanding and professional development. Fellows receive €3,500 to cover travel, accommodation, and living expenses.

November 3, 2026 ⏰ Deadline: Jan 20, 2027

Quick Overview

Host CountryGermany
Degree LevelShort Course
Funding TypePartial Funding
Fields of StudyCommunications, Journalism, Media Studies
DeadlineJanuary 20, 2027

Scholarship Overview

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Overview

The Southern Africa Federal President Horst Köhler Fellowship is a prestigious journalism exchange programme connecting media professionals from Southern Africa with German newsrooms. Established to counter growing political and cultural distance between Africa and Europe, this annual fellowship places selected journalists with media outlets across Germany for intensive professional immersion.

The programme honours former German Federal President Horst Köhler, a committed advocate for African-German relations who championed policy approaches recognising Africa’s global significance and historical transformations.

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What the Fellowship Offers

Fellows from Southern Africa spend July and August 2027 in Germany, beginning with an introductory conference in Berlin before joining their host media organisations. Participants produce content for their home newsrooms while gaining firsthand experience of Germany’s political, economic, cultural, and social landscape.

The fellowship structure includes:

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  • Introductory conference in Berlin to familiarise participants with Germany
  • Several weeks working with selected German media houses
  • Independent research opportunities
  • Ongoing engagement with IJP’s worldwide alumni network

Financial Support

Southern African delegates receive a fixed payment of €3,500. This amount is expected to cover:

  • Return travel to Germany
  • Accommodation throughout the fellowship
  • Daily living expenses

Important: No additional payments are provided. Delegates must use personal funds for any costs exceeding the stipend. Host media outlets do not pay for fellows’ work.

To receive the full grant, participants must submit a report of at least three pages and provide copies of published journalistic work upon returning home.

Eligibility Requirements

The fellowship is open to journalists who meet these criteria:

  • Nationality/Residence: Citizens of SADC Member States and Kenya
  • Age: 25 to 40 years old
  • Employment: Regularly working for a media organisation
  • Language: Above-average English language skills required

SADC countries include: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Host Media Partners

Past participating German media organisations include:

  • Bayerischer Rundfunk
  • Deutsche Welle
  • Deutschlandradio
  • Handelsblatt
  • N24
  • RBB
  • RTL
  • Süddeutsche Zeitung
  • Table.Media
  • Tagesspiegel
  • die tageszeitung
  • Die Welt

Southern African partner media have included SABC, e-tv, The Star, Business Day, Sunday Times, Cape Argus, Radio Mozambique, Zodiak Broadcasting Station (Malawi), and Zimonline News Agency (Zimbabwe).

Application Process

Applications are accepted digitally only during the window:

1 November – 20 January 2027

Steps to apply:

  1. Review the official call for applications when published
  2. Prepare required documentation (see Documents section)
  3. Submit preferences for host media outlets
  4. Send complete application to office@ijp.org

Final placement decisions are made by IJP organisers in consultation with each selected delegate.

Alumni Network and Ongoing Engagement

Fellows join IJP’s unique worldwide alumni network. Benefits include:

  • Regular exchange events in Germany and Southern Africa
  • Email updates on programme developments
  • Opportunity to contribute questions and suggestions to the online format Africa Talks
  • Professional networking across borders

As 2018 alumnus Kennedy Nyavaya noted: “The fellowship is indeed a gateway to realizing maximum potential for any young scribe curious to spread their wings and carve a niche on the global stage.”

Programme Governance

The fellowship operates under the patronage of the South African Ambassador to Berlin and the German Ambassador to South Africa. The German Federal Foreign Office serves as the main funder.

For enquiries, contact:
Marco Vollmar, Head of Programme
Email: vollmar@ijp.org

Key Dates at a Glance

  • Application opens: 1 November 2026
  • Application deadline: 20 January 2027
  • Southern African fellows: July–August 2027
  • German fellows: Starting August 2027 or later
  • Introductory conference: To be announced

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Official scholarship page: https://ijp.org/en/programmes/southernafrica/

Apply on the official site →

You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships

Funding Coverage

€3,500 fixed payment covering travel, accommodation, and living expenses. No additional funding provided.

Eligibility Criteria

Journalists from SADC Member States and Kenya, aged 25-40, regularly employed by a media organisation, with above-average English skills

Required Documents

Digital application documents as specified in current call for applications; report of at least three pages and copies of published work required post-fellowship

Application Process

Submit digital application between 1 November and 20 January to office@ijp.org; include host media preferences; await selection and placement confirmation
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Frequently Asked Questions

The research specifies applicants must 'regularly work for a media organisation.' Freelancers with regular media contracts may qualify, but purely independent journalists without media affiliation likely do not meet this requirement. Contact office@ijp.org to clarify your specific situation.
The €3,500 is expected to cover most travel, accommodation, and living expenses, but fellows must use personal funds for any costs exceeding this amount. The stipend is fixed with no additional payments. Consider your destination city—Berlin and Munich have significantly higher living costs than smaller German cities.
Selection rates are not published. The programme receives applications from across 16 SADC countries plus Kenya, suggesting strong competition. Strengthen your application by demonstrating clear story ideas relevant to German-African relations, proven publication record, and specific host media preferences aligned with your expertise.
Applicants submit preferences for desired outlets, but final placement is determined by IJP organisers in conversation with selected delegates. Flexibility increases your chances—research multiple outlets from the partner list and indicate willingness to work with alternatives.
IJP reviews applications and conducts selection. Shortlisted candidates likely undergo interview. Successful applicants are notified of their host media placement through consultation with organisers. You will then receive details about the Berlin introductory conference and fellowship logistics.
The programme accepts journalists across all media formats. Past Southern African partners include radio (SABC, Radio Mozambique), television (e-tv), newspapers (The Star, Business Day), and online agencies (Zimonline). German host outlets span broadcast, print, and digital platforms. Specify your format expertise in your application.

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