USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program 2024

The Payne Fellowship Program awards up to 30 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. After two years of study, the Payne Fellow must 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 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.

Aim and Benefits

The Payne Fellowship Program awards up to 30 fellowships valued at up to $52,000 annually for a two-year program. This covers tuition, accommodation, book expenses, and other related expenses towards their education.

Requirements

Applicants must ensure they meet the following eligibility criteria:

Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Applicants must be seeking admission to enter graduate school in the fall of 2025 for a two-year program at a U.S. university. They can be in the senior year of their undergraduate studies, graduating by May 2025, 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.

Interview date, Process and Venue

The selection process is below:

Finalists will be chosen in early December 2024.
Finalists will participate in virtual interviews in mid-January.
The program aims to select and offer positions to thirty fellows shortly after interviews.

Applicants must review USAID Foreign Service requirements for medical and security clearances.
Participation is conditional upon completing pre-employment procedures by USAID.
Requirements include background checks for security clearance, medical exams (including for spouse and eligible family members, if applicable), and drug tests.
Failure to meet medical and security requirements may lead to disqualification and reimbursement to the U.S. government for financial assistance received for education.