The Payne International Development Fellowship Programseeks to attract outstanding individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of our 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 Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $104,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities, is a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service. Learn more and apply by October 26th!
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). If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of our 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 Payne Fellowship, which provides up to $104,000 in benefits over two years for graduate school, internships, and professional development activities, is a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service.
Payne Program Overview
Fellowships for Graduate Studies The Payne Fellowship Program awards up to thirty 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 (see below). 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.
Typical Fellowship Experience
The Fellows’ experience begins with their selection in mid-January. The Program advises successful candidates by email soon after the interviews. Once they are selected, Payne Program staff work closely with the fellows to begin security and medical clearances and to facilitate their placement in an internship in Washington, DC during the summer and with a USAID Foreign Service Mentor. Participation in the Payne Program is conditional upon successful completion of pre-employment procedures specified by USAID, including background investigations for a security clearance and medical examinations.
How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 18-58.
- Applicants must be seeking admission to enter graduate school in the fall of 2024 for a two-year program at a U.S. university. They can be in the senior year of their undergraduate studies, graduating by June 2024, 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.
Note: Applicants are not required to be Howard University students or applying to Howard for graduate school.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 26, 2023
