Agriculture and Food Security Program Manager, Sudan
Head of Office, Ghor Province, Afghanistan
Technical Advisor, Emergency Program Quality and Management - Humanitarian
Response Department
Catholic Relief Services' International Development Fellows Program prepares dedicated global citizens to pursue a career in international relief & development work. CRS empowers Fellows to hone their skills and gain practical field experience while contributing to impactful work. Each Fellow works alongside experienced CRS staff to address critical issues facing developing countries today. CRS invites applicants of diverse backgrounds who are committed to our agency mission and strategy to join our global team.
Develop Critical Project & Management Skills
Designed To Prepare Fellows For Success
The CRS Fellowship is a unique 12-month professional development opportunity, designed to prepare Fellows for success in a range of onward positions with CRS. By completing this training program, Fellows are competitive candidates for a wide range of positions with CRS. The Fellowship is centered upon skill building in the following four areas:
Project Management
Activity planning & implementation
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability & learning
Resource/budget management
Reporting
Project Design/Proposal Development
Research, assessments, analysis
Participatory design
Results framework & theory of change
Technical and cost applications
Systems & Operations
Supply chain and logistics
Human Resources
Finance
Risk & compliance
Safety & security
Partnership
Project planning & implementation
Capacity strengthening
Partnership reflection & assessment
Engage In Impactful Work
Make A Difference
CRS works with a vast network of partners to engender sustainable change and provide lifesaving help when emergencies arise. Fellows support CRS' impactful work in a wide variety of sectors and assume varying levels of responsibility.
Common Fellowship Tasks
- Lead new emergency response projects
- Serve as interim project manager
- Participate in the design of new projects
- Oversee assessments and data collection
- Develop accountability frameworks
- Write reports and proposals
Recent countries that have hosted Fellows are highlighted on the map below.
Learn more about where we work and our approach.
Prepare For Future Career Opportunities
Realize Your Potential
Many Fellows build a career with CRS after completing the Fellowship. Each year, nearly all graduating Fellows apply and accept offers for onward positions with CRS. Fellows usually transition directly to positions in program management, program quality, business development, or monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning. Former-Fellows typically move between different regions and roles as they assume positions of greater responsibility with CRS. Hover over the pictures below to view some of the positions that Fellows have held since their Fellowship year.
Celeste Gregory
Fellow in Burundi
2009-2010
Emergency Program Manager, South Sudan
Deputy Head of Programming, Sudan
Emergency Coordinator, Democratic Republic of Congo
Deputy Head of Programming, Sudan
Emergency Coordinator, Democratic Republic of Congo
Taylor Lanton
Fellow in the Phillipines
2016-2017
Operations Manager, Philippines
Operations Manager, Nepal
Head of Operations, Sierra Leone
Advisor, Field Management Response Team
Operations Manager, Nepal
Head of Operations, Sierra Leone
Advisor, Field Management Response Team
Dennis Lee
Fellow in Uganda
2011-2012
Emergency Program Manager, Rwanda
Crisis Response Program Manager, Haiti
Country Representative in Burundi, Angola, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, India, DRC, Haiti, and for Syria Response
Vice President, Humanitarian Response Department
Crisis Response Program Manager, Haiti
Country Representative in Burundi, Angola, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, India, DRC, Haiti, and for Syria Response
Vice President, Humanitarian Response Department
Jennifer Poidatz
Fellow in Benin
1993-1994
Peacebuilding Program Manager, Iraq
Melissa Chedid
Fellow in Egypt
2018-2019
Markets Program Manager, Northeast Nigeria
Emergency Program Manager, Mozambique
Technical Advisor, Cash & Voucher Assistance, Humanitarian Response Department
Emergency Program Manager, Mozambique
Technical Advisor, Cash & Voucher Assistance, Humanitarian Response Department
Danny Pavitt
Fellow in the Philippines
2017-2018
Enjoy Comprehensive Benefits
A Partnership For Health & Success
At CRS, we value employee health and well-being and provide comprehensive benefits to meet your needs and those of your family. Benefits include an international PPO medical plan, dental and vision insurance, generous leave, a highly competitive retirement program, and family-friendly allowances for overseas staff. CRS also prioritizes and invests in staff safety and security and provides travel and property insurance, disability coverage and Employee Assistance Programs.
Medical/Dental/Vision
Fellows enjoy an international PPO medical plan as well as vision coverage with zero deductible for in-network providers and low coinsurance and copayments.
Safe Furnished Housing
CRS provides each Fellow with basic furnished housing, which includes electricity, running water, internet and security services (if necessary). The Fellow's housing is usually an apartment or house near the CRS office.
Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, & personal)
CRS provides Fellows 20 days of paid vacation along with 12 days of sick leave annually. In addition, we offer 4 personal days to attend to emergency or non-emergency situations occurring during a normally scheduled work day.
Travel & Medical Evacuation
CRS covers relocation costs such as transportation to and from the country of assignment, visas, inoculations, etc. Additionally, CRS provides 100% employer-funded medical evacuation coverage for the Fellow and their dependents.
Retirement Benefits (403B)
CRS offers a 50% match on the first 6% of contributions as well as a contribution of 7% of pay regardless of employee contributions, after six months of service. (Note: Employees without a social security number are eligible to participate in an offshore retirement fund with the same contribution calculation.)
Continued Education
Upon hire, Fellows have access to CRS' robust online learning platform. Additionally, CRS will reimburse up to $5,200 per year for employees pursuing degrees and professional certifications, after one year of employment.
Explore more benefits in detail on the CRS benefits page.
Review Program Requirements
Candidate Profile
We seek diverse and aligned candidates, and welcome people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
Minimum Fellowship Requirements
- Graduate degree in a relevant field
- At least six months work or volunteer experience in a developing country
- Fluency in English with strong oral and written commmunication skills
- Professional proficiency in a second language (preference given to French, Arabic and Portuguese)
- Willingness to work in locations with tropical and infectious diseases and limited access to medical facilities.
Please visit the FAQs to review the cover letter requirements.
Apply To Fellowship
Three Simple Steps
Selection Process & Timeline
The IDFP application closed on November 1, 2020.
Due to the high volume of applications and rolling basis of the review, candidates will only be contacted if and when they advance to the next stage of the selection process.
The annual IDFP application will re-open in the Fall of 2021.
Engage With Us
Let's Talk
We encourage you to join us for a webinar on the CRS Fellowship. Our webinars are an opportunity for you to informally exchange with our team—learn more about the Fellowship program, ask your questions, etc. We offer webinars at the times listed below. Simply click on this link to join any session. You may also call in at +1 443-290-6516, conference ID: 434 856 257#
Information Sessions
Thursday, October 1, 2020
11:00am–12:00am EST
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
5:00pm–6:00pm EST
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
10:00am–11:00am EST
Monday, October 19, 2020
9:00am–10:00am EST
Friday, October 23, 2020
2:00pm–3:00pm EST
Learn More
More Opportunities
CAREERS CRS staff, alongside our partners and the people we serve, work daily to bring our mission and guiding priniciples to life. INTERNSHIPS Provides you with the professional experience, knowledge and skills to help you enter the world of international non-governmental organizations. TALENT POOL - KEY PERSONNEL Interested in Director Level Key Personnel Roles on CRS projects? Add your information to CRS’ Talent Pool.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
CRS is proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Selection and hiring decisions are made without regard to sex, gender identity, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, veteran status or any other protected area.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, due to a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email [email protected].
