Become a Leland Fellow

The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship is a two-year opportunity to promote global food and nutrition security through learning and hands-on work. Leland Fellows gain experience and professional skills working with host organizations in development or humanitarian placements around the world, and learn to see what works in international development—and what doesn't—and how to make the system more efficient, more effective, and more just. Each class of Leland Fellows forms a learning cohort, sharing knowledge and insight and growing together throughout the two year program. And the Hunger Center's dynamic leadership development curriculum centers the skills required to create change in the international development and humanitarian sectors.

Gaining Experience


Leland Fellows are placed with host organizations—international and local NGOs, multi-lateral organizations, private sector entities, or U.N. Agencies—making substantive contributions to both program and policy initiatives.

Ruth Meinzen-Dick headshot
[Leland Fellows] are among the "best and brightest" of the next generation who can work to create a better world. [The fellowship] not only contributes to development during the two years of the program, but also strengthens the sponsoring organizations and builds capacity for future leadership to address the key challenges of hunger and poverty in the world. Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

View Leland Host Organizations

Developing Skills


Fellows develop their technical skills, leadership capabilities, and professional network through direct work experiences as well as through the Hunger Center’s in-person and remote trainings, all within the context of a supporting group learning cohort. All trainings build fellows’ core capacities, based on the Hunger Center’s twelve-point leadership capabilities model, and enhance fellows’ ability to become effective agents for change in their chosen path.

Kelly Kurz headshot
What I take away from this fellowship is the mindset the fellowship has worked to cultivate in us: there are a lot of challenges, there are many obstacles that have existed for a long time,…but we should be constantly questions why they’re there and pushing to make this the most effective and powerful system of foreign assistance we think it could be. Kelly Kurz, 9th Class Leland Fellow

Learn about our Leadership Capabilities Model

Bridging the Gap


Addressing the disconnect between public and institutional policy and program implementation is a crucial step toward delivering effective and efficient foreign assistance. Leland Fellows’ two placements are coordinated to show one issue from two different perspectives and provide experience along the full spectrum, identifying ways that fellows can bridge the gap and make the greatest contribution to eliminating food and nutrition security.

Damiana Astudillo headshot
My experience as a Leland Fellow prepared me for a successful career with the federal government, allowing me to develop critical leadership and strategic thinking and a better understanding of implications of policies related to poverty reduction, hunger, agriculture development. Damiana Astudillo, Director of Agriculture, Millennium Challenge Corporation & 3rd Class Leland Fellow

Meet Damiana

Learn More

Watch recordings of two webinars for prospective applicants. In the Applicant Webinar, staff walk you through the basics of the program and how to apply. In the Alum Panel, three alums describe their experiences and what they gained from their fellowship.

Join Us


Ready to join our network of leaders in the movement to end hunger around the world?

Applications to join the 2023-2025 class of Leland Hunger Fellows are now closed. We will begin accepting applications for the 2025-2027 class in fall 2024.

Read our guide for fellowship applicants to learn more about the fellowship, including selection criteria, application timeline, benefits, and much more.

And make sure to sign up for our newsletter to get all the latest news about the fellowship and the Hunger Center.

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Join Us


Ready to join our network of leaders in the movement to end hunger around the world?

Deadline Extended! Applications now due by 11:59 p.m. EST, Monday, February 13, 2023.

We are now accepting applications for the 2023-2025 class. Applications are due by 11:59 EST, February 13, 2023.

Start by reading our guide for fellowship applicants to learn more about the fellowship, including selection criteria, application timeline, benefits, and much more.

Once you've read the guide, start your online application using the link below.

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