The USAID Payne International Development Fellowship Program 2025

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 Fellows will complete two internships:

1. Washington, D.C. Internship: This internship, focused on international issues, takes place the summer after selection and before the first year of graduate study.
2. Overseas Internship: This internship, in a USAID Mission abroad, occurs during the summer between the first and second years of graduate study.

Eligibility Criteria for USAID Payne International Development Fellowship Program

• U.S. citizens
• Aged 18-55
• Seeking admission to graduate school for Fall 2025 at a U.S. university
• Undergraduate seniors graduating by May 2025 or college graduates
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale
• Fellows must pursue graduate degrees in fields such as international affairs, development, economics, history, political science, public administration, communications, public policy, business administration, foreign languages, agriculture, environmental sciences, or urban planning. Law degrees are not accepted. Applicants must apply to two-year graduate programs at U.S. universities simultaneously with their application to the Payne Program.

Orientation

New Payne Fellows will attend an orientation at Howard University in May, shortly after their selection. The orientation aims to familiarize Fellows with all aspects of the fellowship and enhance their understanding of international development careers.

Benefits of the USAID International Development Fellowship Program 2025

The Payne Fellowship Program offers up to thirty fellowships each year, valued at up to $52,000 annually, for a two-year graduate program. The fellowship includes:

• Tuition and Fees: Up to $24,000 per year towards tuition and mandatory fees for a two-year master’s degree at a U.S. institution.
• Stipend: $18,000 per academic year for room, board, books, and other education-related expenses.
• Summer Placement Stipend: Up to $10,000 per year for stipend, housing, transportation, and related expenses for summer placements.
• Mentoring: Each Fellow will receive mentoring throughout the fellowship and during their early employment at USAID.

Upon completion of the two-year program, Payne Fellows are expected to earn a degree in international development or a related field relevant to USAID Foreign Service work. Graduates who meet the program and USAID Foreign Service entry requirements will be appointed as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Agency for International Development.

How to Apply

Click on the apply button below to begin your application.

October 24, 2024