The CrossCulture Programme (CCP) Fellowships is an annual exchange run by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, with support subject to approval by the German Federal Foreign Office. Each year, 50–60 professionals and volunteers spend two to three months with a host organisation in Germany or a CCP partner country. They build specialist knowledge, professional networks and transcultural skills, then bring that experience back to their home organisations.
The programme combines a work placement with mentoring, professional development, networking and a transcultural workshop. For 2026, fellows could participate on site or digitally according to their circumstances; the 2027 call is scheduled to start in October 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Fellows receive a host-organisation placement, mentoring, professional development, a 3–4-day transcultural workshop, networking and access to the CCP alumni network.
- Participants from outside Germany receive €650 per month, round-trip airfare, accommodation, local public transport, health insurance and reimbursement of visa fees.
- Participants from Germany receive €1,200 per month to cover accommodation and local expenses, plus round-trip airfare, health insurance and reimbursement of visa fees.
- The programme does not cover accompanying family members, and all funding remains subject to approval by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be nationals of, or hold long-term residence in, one of these participating countries: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan or Vietnam.
- Applicants living outside Germany or their country of origin must have a long-term residence permit for their country of residence and/or have lived there for at least five years.
- Applicants must be at least 23, have at least two years of documented professional or volunteer experience with a civil-society organisation in their home country, have solid written and spoken English, and be healthy enough for a longer stay abroad.
- Applicants must be professionally or voluntarily associated with an organisation in their field. Registered students and people receiving another similar form of funding in the same year are not eligible. No academic degree is required.
- The main fields are policy and society, media and culture, human rights and peace, and sustainable development and climate justice. Long-term community engagement, a planned or existing host-country collaboration, and additional language skills are preferences rather than hard requirements.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
Age requirement
≥ 23 yrs
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Application process
- 1When the annual window opens, select the relevant country-specific call on the CCP application portal.
- 2Prepare an English CV and a signed recommendation letter from the home organisation or workplace using the required template; a photo is optional.
- 3Complete the online form and upload all documents in one session because drafts cannot be saved.
- 4Submit the complete application online before the deadline; email and late applications are not accepted.
- 5Shortlisted applicants attend an interview before final decisions are sent by email.
Program timeline
15 October 2025
Application period opened for the 2026 cycle
10 December 2025
Application deadline for the 2026 cycle
Final selections expected by email
March–April 2026
Fellowship placements take place, with each lasting two to three months
May–November 2026
October 2026
The call for the 2027 cycle is scheduled to open; an exact date is not published