ifa CrossCulture Internship Programme for Young Leaders in MENA Region 2018

With its CrossCulture Programme (CCP), the ifa (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations) is advocating intercultural exchange and the strengthening of networks between Germany and Islamic world as a partner of the Federal Foreign Office. 

Application Deadline: 12th January 2018

Eligible Countries: 

• Islamic countries: Target groups in the Islamic countries are young professionals and volunteers in various areas of civil society and multipliers who are engaged in the key areas of (social) political development.
• Germany: For German candidates, the target groups are employees of the corresponding host organisations as well as young professionals and volunteers committed to fields of work in which intercultural experience is crucial.

About the Award: The programme enables scholarships for young professionals and volunteers from the participating countries and from Germany. International experience is gained and intercultural competence developed through work stays in another culture. CrossCulture scholarships open up and strengthen the exchange between people, institutions and cultures and thus enable an enhanced partnership between Germany and 30 Islamic countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, South and Southeast Asia.

Scholarships within the CrossCulture Programme are offered in the following work areas:

• Politics & Society
• Human Rights & Peace Building
• Sustainable Development
• Media & Culture

Type: Training

Eligibility: Requirements for taking part in the CrossCulture Programme (CCP) include a good command of English and a permanent involvement in an organisation or institution in one’s own country. Knowledge of the German language is an additional qualification, not a requirement. Applicants should be aged between 23 to 45 years. Currently enrolled university students will not be considered for selection. Furthermore the applicants must be in good health. Their physical as well as mental working capacity must be sufficient for the requirements of a longer stay abroad and the essential work requirements of the internship.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award:  The interns’ travel and subsistence expenses are covered by the programme funds. This includes a monthly grant of 550 Euro, travel costs to Germany and urban local traffic, as well as visa fees, health insurance and accommodation. The latter is either a private room in a shared flat (according to gender), a private room in a host family or a small furnished apartment. Accommodation includes cost for electricity, water and heating; whereas telephone and internet facilities are not included.

• In addition to further professional development and specialist training, the programme participants also gain an insight into the social and political structures of the host country and become acquainted with cultural characteristics and behavioural patterns through integration into working and everyday life.
• They make important contacts which they can use when they return to their home country for future collaboration.
• CrossCulture fellows returning home can offer a valuable contribution to their respective organisations thanks to the experience they have gained abroad. This intercultural exchange thus sustainably strengthens the formation of networks between Germany and the Islamic countries and encourages cross-border dialogue and cooperation.

Duration of Program: The scholarship will last at least eight weeks and up to a maximum of three months and will be individually scheduled according to profile, needs and availability.

How to Apply: Applications for CCP are to be submitted online via our application portal. Please pay attention to the technical requirements. The following required documents have to be uploaded:

• letter of motivation(please use the template)
• CV
• recommendation letter by your current employer / home organisation (please use the template)
• photo (optional)

Please make sure that you have all the necessary documents available when starting the application process, as partial applications cannot be saved. Only fully completed applications will be eligible.
Do not send your application via e-mail to ifa as those applications will not be considered!

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Award Providers: The announcement of the CrossCulture Programme (CCP) is carried out by ifa with the assistance of the German diplomatic missions abroad.

Important Notes: Due to the armed conflict and volatile security environment, scholarships for applicants from Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen are not allocated in 2018.