Deadline: 4-Nov-22
If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of the times — poverty, hunger, injustice, disease, environmental degradation, climate change, conflict and violent extremism – the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development provides an opportunity to advance U.S. foreign policy interests and reflect the American people’s compassion and support of human dignity.
The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Funding Information
- The Payne Fellowship Program awards up to fifteen fellowships valued at up to $52,000 annually for a two-year program. The award includes up to $24,000 per year toward tuition and mandatory fees for completion of a two-year master’s degree at a U.S. institution; a $18,000 stipend for each academic year for room, board, books and other education-related expenses; and up to $10,000 per year in stipend, housing, transportation, and related expenses for summer placements.
- At the conclusion of two years of study, the Payne Fellow is expected to obtain a degree in international development or another area of relevance to the work of the USAID Foreign Service at a U.S. graduate or professional school approved by the Payne Program. Fellows who successfully complete the Payne Program and USAID Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must be seeking admission to enter graduate school in the fall of 2023 for a two-year program at a U.S. university. They can be in the senior year of their undergraduate studies, graduating by June 2023, or they can be college graduates.
- Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
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Typical Experience
- Orientation that introduces fellows to the program and their USAID Foreign Service career.
- Summer placement in Washington, DC with USAID Foreign Service Mentor.
- Completing Master's degree in international affairs or a related subject.
- 10-week overseas summer placement at a USAID Mission.
- An appointment to the USAID Foreign Service, with a required five years of service.
- The Payne Fellowship encourages the application of individuals from historically underrepresented groups in the Foreign Service as well as those with financial need.
- Candidates can be graduating seniors or college graduates with strong academic records and a desire to promote positive change in the world.
Selection Process
- A panel of individuals with experience in the USAID Foreign Service and academia makes selections for the Payne Fellowship. The selection panel will consider candidates’ academic work, statements of interest, letters of recommendation, and honors and awards, as well as their community, extracurricular, and leadership activities. Consideration will be given to qualified applicants who, in addition to outstanding leadership skills and academic achievement, demonstrate financial need.
- The Payne selection panel will choose finalists in the beginning of December 2022. Candidates selected for final consideration will be invited to Washington, D.C. for interviews in mid-January. The program will pay the cost of accommodations and travel to Washington, DC from within the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. The program will strive to complete the selection process and make offers to fifteen fellows soon after the interview.
For more information, visit USAID.
For more information, visit https://www.paynefellows.org/