2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program – Selection
Funds a qualified organization to run the application screening, panel review, interviews, scoring, and selection process for the 2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program.
⚑ Cooperative Agreement for managing a federal fellowship selection process, not for fellowships or research awards. · Selection infrastructure includes panelist training, secure electronic scoring, interviews, essay assessments, and coordination of honoraria. · Award ceiling $85,855. · Eligibility section was cut off in the provided notice; verify any applicant restrictions in the full solicitation.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 31 weak | outside portfolio topics; signature methods: policy analysis, surveys longitudinal; social/behavioral work is minor; funds other — not a research fit |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 25 weak | technical depth: minor; funds other (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 5 none | no commercialization signal |
Description
Funding Opportunity Description
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Outreach, Fellowships, and Internships (HR/OFI) announces an open competition for a qualified organization to manage the candidate screening, panel review, and selection process for the 2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program under a Cooperative Agreement. This specialized selection project serves as a crucial gateway to identify top-tier, merit-based graduate talent across the nation for entry into the Foreign Service.
Project Goal and Objectives
The project aims to establish a rigorous, objective, and standardized multi-phase selection infrastructure that identifies candidates with the technical expertise and leadership required to advance U.S. foreign policy and international development priorities.
Key objectives include:
Panel Formation & Honoraria Management: Onboard qualified selection panelists (tenured Foreign Service Officers, backstop coordinators, and Senior Foreign Service Nationals) by January 2027 and administer panelist honoraria ($500/day for eligible non-USG panelists).
Panel Training & Scoring Execution: Coordinate mandatory panelist training with HR/OFI and the Board of Examiners (BEX) in December 2026/January 2027, and facilitate secure electronic scoring to determine semi-finalists.
Finalist Assessment & Selection: Execute the final selection stage in February 2027 by conducting structured interviews, administering essay assessments, and calculating composite scores to select up to 10 Payne Fellows and alternates.
Onboarding Transition: Secure acceptance agreements, notify non-selected applicants within two working days, and transfer cohort records to HR/OFI to initiate medical and Top Secret security clearances by late February 2027.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Katherine Wright Grantor <wrightka@state.gov>
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