Thursday, January 29, 2026(GERMANY) The State Department for Diaspora Affairs engaged with the IHK FOSA in Nuremberg, Germany’s national authority for assessing and recognizing foreign professional and vocational qualifications.
The session was co-chaired by Ms. Irene Karari, Director of the Skills and Expertise Division who led the Kenya multi-agency teams, and Ms. Heike Klembt-Kriegel, Head of IHK FOSA.
IHK FOSA is pivotal in enabling skilled migrants to access employment matching their qualifications. Its recognition decisions directly impact how swiftly professionals access Germany’s labour market, the calibre of positions they obtain, and the degree of workplace protection they receive.
For Kenya, partnering with IHK FOSA acts as a strategic lever. It creates opportunities to enhance recognition pathways for Kenyan credentials, better align Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with German standards.
The discussion identified practical collaborations, such as pre-assessment guidance, clearer pathways for partial qualification recognition, and potential skills-bridging programmes. These initiatives can boost employability, accelerate integration, and ensure Kenyan professionals secure roles commensurate with their expertise.
This dialogue represents a significant move toward fostering safe, equitable, and dignified labour mobility for Kenyans, while simultaneously addressing critical skill shortages in the German labour market.