The Ford Foundation launched the International Fellowships Program (IFP) in 2000 with an allocation of $280 million, the largest, single grant in the Ford Foundation's history. The IFP operates in 22 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Russia where the Ford Foundation is a grant maker. It is different from other international fellowships in several key ways. First, IFP Fellows are selected on the basis of their leadership record and commitment to their country or community as well as the strength of their academic achievement. Second, Fellows come from disadvantaged groups that have limited access to higher education: about half of the current Fellows are women; many are from ethnic, religious or linguistic minority groups in their home countries and most come from remote or rural areas distant from capital cities. Third, Fellows can pursue graduate studies at universities anywhere in the world

In November 2001 the Ford Foundation invited the Africa-America Institute to administer the IFP in South Africa. After close consultation with officials from the Johannesburg office of the Ford Foundation, the Program was officially launched in South Africa in March 2002

In line with the vision of the IFP, the Program in South Africa aims to support individuals from disadvantaged groups or communities that historically lacked access to higher education. Examples of disadvantaged groups include people from the ethnic groups traditionally residing and/or working in rural areas and low-cost housing townships/informal settlements, particularly women.  Persons working in the public, private & NGO sectors serving these communities are encouraged to apply.  In an attempt to target these specific communities, 5 of the 9 provinces in South Africa have received special attention in recognition of the greater development requirements in these provinces

Selection of the Fellows is by an independent selection panel comprised of scholars, practitioners and eminent persons from various academic and NGO sectors.  Oversight of the Program is from the International Fellowships Fund in New York and the Ford Foundation in South Africa

In May 2006 the Ford Foundation announced a further infusion of funds into the International Fellowships Program worldwide.  The new $75 million grant will allow 900 additional Fellows to participate in the Program, which broadens access to advanced study for people from some of the world's poorest communities. The new support is based on positive results from the program's first five years, which show that a very high proportion of Fellows have achieved academic success and are returning home to tackle development challenges in their own countries. The 3,325 International Fellowships Program Fellows selected to date worldwide have won admission to Masters, Doctoral, and other advanced degree programs at top universities in Europe, North America, and in their home countries and regions. It is anticipated that a total of 4,300 Fellows will have received support by the end of the program in 2014