Donald M Payne Fellowship
The Payne Fellowship provides unparalleled opportunities for those passionate about international development. Fellows receive financial support to pursue graduate studies, domestic and overseas internships, and professional development opportunities to pave the way for a career as a USAID Foreign Service Officer.
Donald M. Payne, Sr., was the first African American from New Jersey to serve in the U.S. Congress and left a legacy as a peacemaker and an advocate for human rights and youth empowerment. The Payne Fellowship Program is named in honor of Congressmember Payne Sr.'s long history of service to the nation and the world in promoting international development, global peace, and prosperity.
Benefits of the Payne Fellowship:
- Tuition Assistance: Up to $104,000 over two years for a two-year master's degree.
- Internships: Two internships – one on Capitol Hill and one at a USAID Mission overseas.
- Professional Development: Mentoring and support throughout the fellowship.
- Employment: Appointment as a USAID Foreign Service Officer upon successful completion of the program with a commitment of five-years of service.
Foreign Service Officers apply their technical knowledge, program design, management, and evaluation expertise to promote and demonstrate democratic values abroad, and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. Foreign Service Officers work with a diverse range of colleagues in environments that can be unfamiliar and challenging.
Foreign Service work includes:
- Collaborating with foreign governments, representatives, development agencies, and non-governmental partners to deliver U.S. foreign assistance
- Developing, managing, and evaluating country and regional programs
- Ensuring that programs meet the needs of partners cost-effectively
- Responding to crises and humanitarian emergencies
- Economic growth and trade
- Peace and security
- Education and health
- Democracy and governance
- Conflict mitigation
- Humanitarian response