1. Preparations
In January you start planning your trip to Germany: liaise with your project partners and Engagement Global and go through the guidelines. It is also important to apply for your visa for Germany as early as possible.
ASA is a Programme of Engagement Global
Programme OpportunitiesGet to know the ASA Programme
The ASA Programme is an exchange and scholarship programme in the field of development policy. It offers scholarships to young people aged 21 to 35 and brings together around 280 young people each year from Germany and partner countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Southeast Europe.
About the Programme
The ASA Programme accompanies you for more than half a year offering you a wide range of learning opportunities and practical experiences. Young people from Germany and partner countries worldwide work together in international teams to implement projects on topics such as climate change, education, IT, renewable energies, or social justice. It consists of a project phase (three months in Germany and three months in a partner country) and two preparatory seminars.
Participants from countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Southeast Europe can take part in the global programme format, in which international teams of usually four members complete the programme cycle together. Participants from partner countries are selected directly by organisations proposing a project for the ASA Programme and are already involved in these organisations. Non-German residents living outside of Germany cannot apply directly to the ASA Programme via the online platform.
Programme Cycle
Before your arrival in Germany, you prepare your trip to Germany and the project phase there. This includes liaising with your project partners and Engagement Global as well as going through the guidelines for participants. An important step is applying for your visa for Germany. Your project partner in Germany supports you through this process.
Shortly after your arrival in Germany, you take part in two multi-day preparatory seminars (one online seminar and one seminar located in a seminar house in Germany). These seminars introduce you to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the foundations of development cooperation. You also explore topics such as communication in international contexts and potential challenges during your project phase. Throughout the preparatory seminars a professional team and tutors (former ASA participants) accompany you. All seminars are conducted in English.
During the project phase you complete a six-month project internship as part of an international team with participants from Germany. You work together on specific projects, spending three months with a project partner in Germany, followed by three months with an organisation in your country of residence. Throughout this time, you contribute your own ideas, gain practical experience and develop your professional skills.
After completing the project phase, you apply your experiences to your studies, career, and community. Maybe you will start an organisation together with fellow participants, or develop new ideas for sustainable products and initiatives?
Programme Cycle
Fields of Activity and Programme Formats
The ASA Programme collaborates with project partners that include nongovernmental organisations, foundations, German Development Cooperation institutions, municipal authorities (ASA NGO), companies (ASApreneurs), and universities (ASA Academia).
You will support NGOs or organisations involved in development cooperation. The project phase lasts six months with the first three months taking place in Germany, followed by three months in your country of residence.
Project examples: Sustainable agriculture in India and Germany, Project on Plastic Waste Management in Ghana and Germany.
In collaboration with companies in Germany and your country of residence, you will work on promoting social and environmental sustainability in the business world. You will begin with a three-month project phase in Germany, followed by a further three-month phase in your country of residence.
Project examples: Sustainable coffee cultivation in Rwanda, Marketing of solar power systems in Germany and Indonesia
In collaboration with universities in Germany and your country of residence, you will carry out research projects on topics related to sustainable development. You will begin with a three-month project phase in Germany, followed by a further three-month phase in your country of residence.
Project examples: Development of sustainable cooking technologies in Madagascar, Researching green hydrogen in Namibia
Participants residing in Germany should visit the German website to find more information on the basic format of the programme which, differs in duration and number of participants per team.
Requirements for participants
Would you like to participate in the ASA Programme? Below you can find all the details about the requirements.