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Provides funding for graduate studies in international development, with a five-year commitment to foreign service.
Contact
USAID Donald M. Payne International Development FellowshipPaynefellows@howard.edu
Quick facts
Citizenship
US CitizenStatus
Senior, Entering GraduateLocation
DomesticEndorsement Required
NoAward Amount
$52,000 annually, up to two years of study.
Award Site
https://www.paynefellows.org/Description
| The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding young people 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, provides a unique pathway to the USAID Foreign Service. The Payne Fellowship encourages the application of members of minority groups who have historically been underrepresented in international development careers and those with financial need. The fellowship is named in honor of longtime development champion, the late Congressman Donald Payne. The initiative is funded by USAID and administered by Howard University. Fellowship recipients can use the award to attend U.S. graduate programs throughout the country; they will join the USAID Foreign Service upon completion of the program, as long as they successfully complete the Payne Program and USAID entry requirements. |
Eligibility
| Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Applicants must be seeking admission to enter graduate school in the fall for a two-year program at a U.S. university. They can be in the senior year of their undergraduate studies, graduating by June, 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. For a competitive application: The Payne Fellowship Selection Panel judges each applicant based on a variety of different criteria. It seeks individuals who show clear interest in a Foreign Service career at USAID, along with a strong academic background, a commitment to service, leadership skills, financial need for graduate school, diverse interests in areas such as international affairs and development, cultural sensitivity, writing skills, and an ability to overcome obstacles. A good application introduces the individual to the panel and shows his/her unique motivations, experiences, accomplishments, and career goals. |