The United States Embassy in Addis Ababa has officially announced the opening of applications for the 2027-2028 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.
The initiative is designed to provide mid-career professionals from Ethiopia with an opportunity to enhance their expertise and build lasting professional networks with their American counterparts through a year-long residency in the United States.
Fully funded by the U.S. government, the fellowship is not a degree-granting program but rather a strategic platform focused on professional development and capacity building.
Specialized Focus Areas are Communication, Governance, Natural Resources, Economics, Health, and Technology Policy.
To be eligible, applicants must be between 32 and 45 years of age, hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and possess a minimum of five years of full-time professional experience following their graduation.
Furthermore candidates are expected to be in leadership or policy-related roles, demonstrate advanced English proficiency, and commit to returning to Ethiopia for at least two years upon completion of the program to apply their newly acquired skills for the benefit of their community.
As part of the selection process, candidates must be willing to sit for the TOEFL examination. Eligibility is restricted to Ethiopian citizens or permanent residents holding a valid Ethiopian passport.
The Embassy has also specified exclusionary criteria professionals who have previously completed one or more academic years of post-graduate study in the United States are ineligible.
Additionally, those who have participated in any U.S government-sponsored programs within the past three years are disqualified from applying.
The application process is conducted exclusively online. Prospective fellows are required to submit a comprehensive dossier via the program’s official portal, including a professional CV, a detailed program plan, written essay responses, letters of support including one from a current employer and official academic transcripts.
The deadline for submission is July 19, 2026.The Embassy emphasized that applicants should not attempt to deliver documents in person, as all submissions must be made digitally.
Please note that this fellowship is for individual participants; the program does not permit family members to accompany fellows during their time in the United States.
For further information or inquiries, candidates are encouraged to visit the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa’s official website or contact the relevant department directly.
