In August 2022, 250 candidates applied for the "German-African Trainee Program 2023". After a pre-selection by Bukura Agricultural College (BAC), 66 candidates were given the opportunity to participate in a German language course and prepare for the final selection.

From January 14th to 21st, 2023, AKI project managers Anastasiia Fomina and Teklezghi Teklebrhan traveled to Kenya to meet with the pre-selected candidates and conduct the final selection of trainees for year 2023. After three intensive days of selection interviews from January 16th to 18th, a total of 35 candidates (60% male and 40% female) were selected as qualified.

On January 19th, participants from the first and second years met with the newly selected third-year trainees. The former participants of the AKI traineeship program shared their experiences during their time in Germany. During this exchange meeting, Anastasiia Fomina and Teklezghi Teklebrhan also answered open and relevant questions about the traineeship and provided more details about the program.

The project managers also exchanged with BAC regarding the program process and important steps for the organization. They also discussed the supervision of previous cohorts.

As part of the follow-up program, Anastasiia Fomina and Teklezghi Teklebrhan met with three representatives of the Joint Farmers' Community Based Organization (CBO), which consists of over 50 farmers from the Mt. Elgon region in Trans Nzoia County and West Pokot County. The CBO Chairman, Mr. Cosmas Nabungolo, had hired a former trainee from AKI's traineeship program in 2022 and was so impressed with his performance and work approach that he is exploring now a possible partnership with the BAC and AKI within the CBO.

Before departing for Germany, Anastasiia Fomina and Teklezghi Teklebrhan met with Ariane Riemann, program manager from the Green Innovation Center for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIAE) in Kisumu, to provide updates on the results and further prospects of the program and to exchange ideas.

The selection trip was a successful and productive step in preparing for the German-African Trainee Program in 2023. The AKI project managers returned motivated and are now organizing the arrival of the third cohort and follow-up support for the Kenyan trainees.