Become a Leland Fellow
Around the world, a consensus is emerging: to ensure food and nutrition security for a growing world population, agri-food systems need transformation. We need bold leaders with experience bridging the gap between implementation and policy to help lead the transformation.
The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship is a two-year opportunity to promote global food and nutrition security through learning and hands-on work. If you're ready to work to eradicate hunger and poverty, develop your skills as a leader, and become an effective agent of change, read on.
Building Experience
Leland Fellows gain experience and professional skills working with host organizations in development or humanitarian placements around the world.
Fellows are placed in two separate offices of their host organization, often a country office and a regional or headquarters office. Through these two placements, fellows get an unparalleled breadth of experience within the sector 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.
Backyard Farming to Fight Malnutrition in Uganda
Upholding Humanity in the Face of Failure
Humans are Complex: Why Our Approaches to Nutrition Behavior Change Must be Too
Benefits Beyond Agriculture: Engaging Overlooked Populations in Guatemala
Fellows in Action
On October 10, our current Leland Fellows presented insights and analysis based on their first-year placements. Hear fellows share their experiences and recommendations for improving global food security.
DEVELOPING LEADERS
Each class forms a community of practice, where fellows share knowledge and experiences with a supportive network of peers. Fellows help each other question, troubleshoot, learn, and develop a deeper understanding of the sector and their place in the sector. The cohort is a place to ask difficult questions and work through the challenges of the answers.
Fellows convene in-person at several points during the fellowship, including orientation, retreats, trainings, and conferences, to expand their subject-matter knowledge and learn from each other's experiences.
Fellows also receive advising and coaching from Hunger Center staff to help navigate challenges, and may draw on professional development funds to aid their individual growth in areas outside their placement work plans. Fellows have used these funds to take skills courses and workshops, attend professional conferences, study relevant languages, and more.
The Leland Fellowship is open to any U.S. citizen or legal permanent residents, and we welcome candidates with diverse professional and life experiences, perspectives, and identities. We also know that candidates who exhibit flexibility and a growth mindset are best prepared to take full advantage of the fellowship.
If you're considering applying for the Leland Fellowship, we recommend completing our questionnaire to see if this opportunity is right for you.
The Cohort Effect
Hear Leland Fellows Faye, Kelly, and Anthony explain the benefit of learning together and sharing experiences as a cohort.
A Powerful Network
Since its launch in 2001, nearly 150 fellows have supported the work of 80 partner organizations in 48 nations around the world. Fellows' work has included work on the topics of climate-smart agriculture, market systems, livelihoods, humanitarian nutrition, natural resource management, social inclusion, gender equity, and more.
After graduation, fellows join a supportive and active alum community, a powerful professional network of leaders working at NGOs, governmental agencies, intergovernmental bodies, and private sector entities. Wherever they go after the fellowship, alums know how to be effective agents for change: to analyze situations, identify the centers of power, and determine the levers that can be used to influence outcomes.
Leland Fellows' placements, 2001-2024. Gold indicates at least one Leland Fellow placement.
The Leland fellowship was life changing. The Hunger Center prioritizes professional development and personal growth and supports fellows during their practical experiences with host organizations with training, learning and reflection. As a fellow, I was given the opportunity to join a brilliant team working towards changing and saving lives. I will share the knowledge and skills I was able to develop during the fellowship and continue working towards a more food and nutritionally secure world.Ally Vertti, 10th Class Leland Fellow (2019-2021)
Learn More
On Wednesday, October 9, we held an informational webinar for prospective applicants. Watch the recording to learn more about the structure and benefits of the fellowship, the application and onboarding process, and more.
Join Us
Ready to join our network of leaders in the movement to end hunger around the world?
Deadline Extended! We are accepting applications for the 2025-2027 class on a rolling basis through January 15, 2025. Follow the three steps below to prepare and submit your application. We look forward to hearing from you!
Step One
Application to the fellowship includes submitting a written form, your resume, and two rounds of interviews. Get our two-page application guide to learn more about the process and what to expect.
Step Two
Once you've read the guide above, it's time to prepare your application. The document below lists all the questions you will be asked on your application. Review the questions and consider how you would answer.
Step THree
Now you're ready to apply. Upload your resume and enter your responses in the form linked below. Please note: the form will not save your progress; if you navigate away from the page or lose your internet connection, you will need to begin again. We strongly recommend preparing your responses separately and paste them into the form when you are ready to apply.
And make sure to join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with the Leland Fellowship, including application deadlines and updates.
Join Us
Ready to join our network of leaders in the movement to end hunger around the world?
Learn More
Application to the fellowship includes submitting a written form, your resume, and two rounds of interviews. Get our two-page application guide to learn more about the process and what to expect.
Make sure to join our mailing list to keep up-to-date with the Leland Fellowship, including application deadlines and updates.