World Bank Group Young Professionals Program
- Organization: World Bank Group
- Type: Fellowship
- Location: Global
- Deadline: September 30, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
The World Bank Group runs this as its flagship leadership development programme, hiring early career professionals into a two-year staff appointment spanning the World Bank, IFC and MIGA. New Young Professionals start in Washington, DC and complete three rotations of eight months each, with at least one based in a country office. Finishing the programme leads to a further five-year contract. **What you get:** - A two-year staff appointment at GF level, with a salary and a full benefits package - A further five-year contract on successful completion, renewable after that - Three rotations of eight months across the World Bank, IFC and MIGA, including at least one country office posting - A place in the YP Academy, a two-year curriculum covering onboarding, language learning, business and leadership skills, and operational training - Dedicated mentorship and direct engagement with senior leaders - Travel, accommodation and reasonable expenses covered if you are invited to a panel interview **What you'll do:** - Apply under one of two tracks, Operations or Specialized Functions, and pick a technical stream such as education, health, climate, water, transport, digital transformation, legal or economic policy - Complete one rotation in your primary function, one cross-institutional rotation, and at least one rotation based in a country office - Work on projects across the World Bank Group regions, from agricultural reconstruction in post-conflict settings to infrastructure finance - Write two personal statements of up to 400 words each, and a 250 word account of your qualifications for your chosen stream **Key dates:** - Application portal opens September 1, 2026 - Applications close September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM UTC. Late applications are not considered - Applications reviewed October 1 to 15, 2026, with the top 10 percent taken forward - Virtual interviews and assessments October 15 to 31, 2026 - Panel interviews and case studies in Washington DC and Nairobi in December 2026, or Paris and Bangkok in January 2027 - Offers sent late January to early February 2027 - New cohort starts in Washington, DC in September 2027 **More information:** - The programme page carries the full FAQ, the stream list and the required documents - Programme questions go to ypp@worldbankgroup.org, technical problems to hroperations@worldbank.org - The World Bank Group states there is no insider knowledge beyond its own website, and advises against paying anyone offering help with the application - Applicants must confirm the application is their own original work, with no AI tools or outside assistance
