It is with great pleasure that we announce the opening of the USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship Program 2017 application! The application can be found at www.paynefellows.org and will remain open until January 20, 2017.

The Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship seeks to prepare young people for careers in international development as Foreign Service Officers in USAID.  USAID has expanded the program, which selected three fellows in 2013, and will offer up to ten fellowships in 2017. The best way for potential applicants to learn more about the programs is through the website at www.paynefellows.org.  They can also feel free to contact USAID directly by e-mail (paynefellows.org) or phone (202-806-5952).  

The Payne Fellowship Program provides benefits of up to $94,000 over two years toward a two-year master's degree, arranges internships in Washington D.C. and at USAID missions overseas, and provides professional development and support activities leading to employment in USAID.  Fellows may use the fellowship to attend a two-year master's program in a U.S. institution to study an area of relevance to the USAID Foreign Service, including international relations, public policy, agriculture, environmental sciences, health, business administration, economics, or urban planning at a graduate or professional school approved by the Payne Program.  At the end of the two-year fellowship, Fellows enter 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.  Applicants must be college seniors or graduates looking to start graduate school in the fall of the year they apply, have GPAs of at least 3.2 and be U.S. citizens. The program welcomes applications from those with any undergraduate major.

Attached you will find a flyer and newsletter providing you with more information about the fellowship, as well as some tips to help guide you through the application process!