Congressional Hunger Center—Leland International Hunger Fellowship

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Program Purpose: 

The Congressional Hunger Center supports a diversity of local and national approaches to eliminate hunger, poverty and oppression and nurture a national network of creative and inspiring change agents who hope to create a country where access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food is recognized as a basic human right.

Program Description: 

The International Hunger Fellowship is a leadership development opportunity for experienced, motivated individuals – from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds, as well as ethnic, cultural, and religious experiences – seeking to make a difference in the struggle to eliminate hunger and poverty worldwide. Each year 18-20 fellows are selected to work on issues that impact hunger – including food security, land rights, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, nutrition, network/coalition building and market access. The two-year program begins with a one-year field placement in the countries where food insecurity is most severe and widespread, including sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Fellows are assigned to national and international NGOs, private sector entities, and bi-lateral and multi-lateral organizations. The following year is spent in a complimentary policy environment. For the policy placements, most fellows return to the U.S. to work at U.S. headquarters of the organizations for which they were placed during their field experience.

Program Benefits: 

Fellows receive a monthly stipend , a housing supplement, transportation allowance, relocation allowance, health and evacuation insurance, and a yearly allowance for their own professional development activities. Fellows also receive an end of service award to help fellows transition to the next phase of their career. Program participants are eligible for admission to Carnegie Mellon's Heinz School's Master of Science in Public Policy and Management and Master of Science in Health Care Policy and Management programs. The Heinz programs have been consistently ranked among the nation's top ten public policy programs. If admitted to either master's program, fellows are eligible for a scholarship of at least $6,000 per semester.

Applicant Profile: 

Candidates must have at least one year's experience working to alleviate hunger and poverty or serving in a related field in a developing country. Fellows may also be required to speak a regional or local language of field placement country. There are no age requirements but most fellows are between 24 and 34. Successful candidates will possess integrity, a positive attitude, and flexibility in taking on challenging situations.

Eligibility: 

Must have a graduate degree in a related field, plus one continuous year of relevant experience. Equivalent experience may subsitute for the graduate degree.

Citizenship: 

U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Program Deadline: 

Usually December 1.

How To Apply: 

Information on this program is offered for the benefit of our students. The Fellowships Office does not at this time, however, work with applicants to this program.