Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most important questions concerning Teams up! can be found here. If you cannot find what you’re looking for, just give us a call or send an email.

General matters

What does “extra-curricular exchange projects” actually mean? What types of group can take part?

Any extra-curricular youth group (e.g. youth organisations, school clubs, sports clubs, intercultural education organisations, conservation groups, religious organisations, scouts associations, etc.) can take part. We also encourage applications from groups that have previously not been active in the area of development or only to a limited extent. We’d be happy to provide you with any advice you need. If you are interested in school youth exchanges, feel free to contact the School Exchange Programme for Development Education, ENSA.

More information

Application matters

What does the application process involve?

The basis of the application is a project idea developed jointly by a partner in Germany and a partner in an African country. You are welcome to contact us in advance for advise on your specific project idea and the subsequent application procedure. We also offer digital information events for applicants: Please consult our regular information about dates and key topics on our website.
The first step of the process, prior to the application, involves the German partner undergoing an assessment for implementing organisations by Engagement Global's Central Programme Service (ZPS). Once the assessment has been passed, the partners can submit the application they have drawn up together by the appropriate deadlines.

Information about the assessment for implementing organisations
To the deadlines
Information about the digital information events

What does the assessment for implementing organisations involve and what are the criteria?

The German partner must be assessed as an implementing organisation before the application can be submitted. The assessment is based on criteria such as non-profit character, legal form and credit worthiness. The form and attachments should be sent by email to

traegerpruefung@engagement-global.de

and by post to

Engagement Global gGmbH
Zentraler Programmservice
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40
53113 Bonn

no later than four weeks before submission of the actual project application.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Central Programme Service (ZPS) using the dedicated email address given above.

Assessment form (docx, 82 KB)
Information about the assessment for implementing organisations

Is a further assessment necessary, if the German partner organisation is already registered with Engagement Global under an implementing organisation number?

Yes. However, the process can be made much shorter if the organisation has already been approved under another Engagement Global programme.

What forms have to be submitted with the application?

Once the implementing organisation has passed the assessment, the following documents have to be submitted:

Signed, fully completed application form in Word format, by email and post
Signed, fully completed financing plan (in PDF format, not scanned), by email and post
Crisis and emergency mangement plan, by email and post

jugendbegegnungen@engagement-global.de

Please make sure you use the latest versions of our forms, which you can find here:

To the Document Centre

Where can I get help with the application forms?

“How-to” notes are available in English (as well as in German and French) to help guide you through the project application and expenditure and financing plan. If you need further assistance, the Teams up! team will be happy to help:

jugendbegegnungen@engagement-global.de

You can also attend one of our upcoming information events.

To the forms

Organisational matters

Can the visits to the partner country and Germany differ in length within the specified 14 to 30 days?

To ensure the projects are truly based on a principle of partnership, the visits to each country should be of balanced length.

What does a principle of partnership mean in the Teams up! programme?

It means that the project partners should work as equals in all phases of the project and share their opinions and views as partners. The aim is for them to mutually benefit and engage in perspective-taking through a constant process of communication and dialogue. There should also be a balance between the tasks assigned to each side.

Does the project have to focus on one or several SDG? How do we choose the right SDG for us?

The project should relate to one specific SDG. The partners are free to choose an SDG that fits in with their interests or experience. During the project, the theoretical and practical aspects should focus on the chosen SDG. We will be happy to advise you on your choice.

What does “diversity” mean in relation to the participants?

The Teams up! programme is intended for young people from all social groups. In this context, “diversity” refers among others to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, education, impairment and disability.

Is there a specific order for which project partner travels first? The one from Germany or the one from the partner country?

No. You and your project partner can decide the order of the project visits.

What happens in the event of changes in the implementation of the project?

In accordance with your reporting duties, please consult the Teams up! team if changes occur during the project. Details of your reporting duties can be found in the forwarding agreement.

What happens if the local security situation changes during the project?

In the event of this happening, please contact the Teams up! Youth Exchange team immediately so that you can find a solution with them in line with the situation.

Does AGYO provide assistance with the visa application process?

The AGYO team can assist you with visa applications by supplying a visa support letter from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to be presented to the embassy, if required. To receive support letters, please send an up-to-date, full list of participants to:

jugendbegegnungen@engagement-global.de

Participants List Visa Support Letter (PDF, 966 KB)

What information has to be included in the crisis and emergency management plan?

Your crisis and emergency management plan should describe the communication channels and measures to be taken in the event of a crisis and contain an emergency telephone number that can be contacted by all participants 24/7. In addition, all German participants should register in the Federal Foreign Office’s crisis preparedness list (ELEFAND list).

More information

Is it possible for participants to live with a host family?

You and your partner organisations decide how participants are to be accommodated. Both group accommodation (in a youth hostel, for example) and accommodation in host families are possible. If you choose to place participants with host families, please be aware that expenses are only claimable if they can be proven to have been incurred.

Financial matters

Does the 50,000 euro expenditure limit refer to total expenditure for the project or only the part for which funding is provided?

The 50,000 euro expenditure limit refers to total expenditure. Up to 75 percent of this amount can be funded through Teams up!. 25 percent must be provided by the project partners. The share of funding to be provided by the project partners can come from a third party.

What expenses can be claimed?

All claimable expenses can be found in the “how-to” notes for the financing plan and in the sample forwarding agreement. Please make sure your financial plan is as detailed and realistic as possible (for example, with specific details of the basis of any calculations) and that the relevance to the project is explained clearly for each item.

To the forms

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