The Donald Payne Fellowship Program to make Career of Young Talent in United States

Deadline: 1-Jul-21

USAID is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Donald Payne Fellowship Program.

The goal of the Payne Fellowship Program is to attract and prepare outstanding young talent for careers as USAID Foreign Service Officers (FSOs).

The Payne Fellowship Program provides two years of financial assistance for graduate study in international development or another field relevant to a USAID foreign service career.

Payne Fellows who successfully complete the program (including obtaining a graduate degree) and meet USAID foreign service entry requirements may receive appointments as USAID FSOs.

The Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship Program (hereafter referred to as the Payne Fellowship Program) was launched in March 2012, and is currently managed under a cooperative agreement with Howard University.

Program Elements and Objectives

The recipient shall recruit new talent for the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program.
The Payne Program identifies and attracts outstanding candidates from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, historically marginalized populations, and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds in the United States, and who 5 have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career with USAID.
The recipient shall provide funding to assist these students toward completing a full-time two-year graduate degree in academic disciplines representing the skill needs of USAID, as well as providing professional development activities through orientation, skills development activities, mentorship, and support for summer rotations/details in Washington D.C. and overseas at a USAID mission.

Funding Information

Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated:
- Subject to funding availability, USAID intends to provide $10.4 million in total USAID funding over a five (5)-year period. The ceiling for this program is $10.4 million.
- Actual funding amounts are subject to availability of funds.
- USAID intends to award one (1) Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity.
- USAID reserves the right to fund any one or none of the application(s) submitted.
Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards:
- The period of performance anticipated herein is 5 years.
- The estimated start date will be on or about the signature date of the award.
Substantial Involvement:
- USAID intends to award a Cooperative Agreement to the applicant whose application, conforming to this NOFO, offers the greatest value in furthering the goals of the program.
- A Cooperative Agreement is distinguished from a grant by virtue of USAID having substantial involvement in the implementation of the program.

Outreach

The recipient shall conduct a variety of external and internal outreach efforts for the USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program throughout the calendar year with increased efforts prior to the scheduled opening of the fellowship application and throughout the open application period.

External Efforts can be categorized into four general modalities and will include:
- Payne Fellowship Website
- In-Person and Online Outreach
- Online Outreach and Communications
- Network Outreach
Internal Outreach
- The recipient shall maintain regular communication/internal outreach with USAID/HCTM/FSC on current outreach strategies and implementation.
- Additionally, the recipient shall maintain internal records of partnerships and contacts.

Eligibility Criteria

Based upon Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ), only US institutions from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, historically marginalized populations and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are eligible to participate under the NOFO.
This program is restricted to public and/or private institutions of higher learning of minority and economically disadvantaged groups.
Other categories of Minority Serving Institutions are not eligible.
Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful applicant(s) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).
The Recipient must be a responsible entity.
The AO may determine a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.
The recipient shall clearly communicate that the eligibility requirements for the Program shall include:
- Proof of US citizenship;
- Seeking admission to a two-year full-time master’s degree program in a U.S. university and in the fall of the academic year of application; in selected fields of study representing the needs of USAID, including: international relations, public policy, public administration, public health, political science, anthropology, social sciences, foreign languages, business administration, agricultural studies, economics, environmental sciences, engineering and other degrees relevant to USAID’s requirements for entry into Foreign Service;
- A minimum 3.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, maintained throughout participation of their two-year graduate degree program; and
- Demonstration of financial need.