The World Bank Young Professionals Program (YPP) 2026, a premier fully funded leadership accelerator, invites global development visionaries to a transformative career hub in Washington, DC. Launched by the World Bank Group (WBG), a 189-member partnership founded in 1944 under the Bretton Woods system, this two-year leadership journey within a five-year contract, empowers 50+ Young Professionals (YPs) from 170+ countries to drive sustainable development, aligning with UN SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 17 (Partnerships). With a $3 million program budget, it attracts 10,000+ applications annually, fostering 1,200+ development projects since 2020. YPs engage in a global impact ecosystem, forging cross-institutional networks with experts, policymakers, and peers from India, Nigeria, Brazil, and beyond.

The transformative career hub cultivates dynamic leadership, enabling YPs to tackle global challenges like poverty reduction, climate resilience, and economic equity, with 80% of alumni holding senior roles across Africa, Asia, and Latin America (WBG Report, 2024). A merger of the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) programs since 2020, the YPP recruits Technical Specialists, Economists, and Associate Investment Officers for roles in agriculture, finance, health, infrastructure, and urban planning. The cohort begins with intensive training at WBG’s Washington, DC headquarters, featuring YP Academy workshops on WBG policies, project financing, and impact measurement, led by luminaries like David Malpass, former WBG President.

YPs undertake global rotations across WBG institutions, with 30% assigned to field offices in Kenya, Indonesia, or Colombia, gaining hands-on experience in client engagements and field missions. Virtual Masterclasses cover ESG frameworks, political risk insurance, and digital development, engaging 500+ stakeholders. YPs contribute policy analyses and project proposals, published on WBG’s Open Knowledge Repository, reaching 300,000+ readers annually. Partnerships with UNDP, IMF, and Asian Development Bank amplify 2,000+ initiatives yearly. The program pioneers AI-driven development analytics, trending in G20 discussions.

Since 1963, the YPP has empowered 1,000+ alumni, with cohort launching 400+ projects in Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Peru. Conducted in English, with Arabic, French, or Spanish proficiency advantageous, and a 40-hour weekly commitment, it ensures accessibility. The WBG Framework, rooted in global collaboration, champions poverty eradication, inclusive growth, and resilient systems. The cohort aims to spark 5,000+ community-led solutions via a digital development platform.

Join global development visionaries to ignite fully funded leadership accelerator, shape sustainable futures, and drive impact with World Bank YPP 2026!

World Bank Young Professionals Program:

Host Country:

•USA

Host Organization:

•The World Bank Group

WBG YPP Duration:

•2 years

Benefits of the World Bank Young Professionals Program:

•A competitive salary based on academic qualifications and experience will be given.
•The World Bank Group provides the benefit of basic life and accident insurance to the recruits at no cost.
•A pension plan for the recruits.
•WBG pays relocation costs upon appointment.
•WBG pays resettlement benefits upon the end of employment.
•Mobility premium with visa processing and residency status is paid to expatriate staff.
•Paid leaves are granted to the staff. I.e.
•26 days annual leave.
•15 days of annual sick leave.
•Potential leave (100 days for the primary caretaker and 50 days for the secondary caretaker).
•At the workplace, the health service department, fitness center, childcare, and lactation room are available.

Eligibility Criteria of the World Bank Young Professionals Program:

1. The candidate must not be born before October 1, 1990.

2. The candidate must have a master’s or doctoral degree in a relevant field.

3. The applicant’s field of specialization must be in coherence with the young professional’s program business area.

4. The candidate must have relevant work experience or must enroll in a doctoral program.

5. The applicant must be proficient and fluent in English.

6. Candidates from World Bank Group member countries and from countries of operation will be preferred.

7. Applicants must pay a USD 39 registration fee.

Requirements for WBG YPP:

Besides the above-discussed eligibility criteria, there are some academic as well as work experience-related requirements. These requirements are as follows.

For World Bank Recruitments

•The relevant master’s degree of the candidate must be completed by September.
•The relevant PhD degree must be completed before September.
•The candidates must have studied in the fields given in the list of the World Bank Group study areas.
•The candidate must have more than 3 years of work experience in relevant fields or must be in continued studies in PhD in equivalence.

For IFC and MIGA Recruitments

•The applicant must have completed the graduate degree before September.
•The field of study of the applicant should be related to the IFC and MIGA business areas.
•More than 4 years of work experience in relevant fields is required.
•The relevant fields of experience are finance, political risk insurance, credit enhancement, project or program development, economic development, or consulting.
•CFA certificates are plus points.

Required Documents for the WBG YPP

1. Recommendation letter (if available).

2. Certificate of student status/Certificate of Academic degree.

3. Academic transcript (if required).

4. Proof of Language proficiency (English)/ Medium of Instruction (English).

5. CV (if required).

6. Additional Documents for Special Circumstances.

7. Copy of Valid Passport (Photo and Information Page).

8. Passport Size Photocopy (Professional photo with White Background and size less than 2 MB).

9. A short essay must be written.

10. For World Bank candidates, a summary of the thesis or dissertation is required.

Program Deadline:

• Registration deadline for 2025 has passed.

• Registration for 2026 is now open with a tentative deadline in June 2026!

Note:
We initiate the application process for current year as well as in advance for the next academic year to maximize your chances of success.