World Bank Group Young Professionals Program 2027

The World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (YPP) is the World Bank Group’s flagship leadership development initiative for talented early-career professionals who want to contribute to global development.

Successful candidates join the World Bank Group as GF-level term staff members rather than interns or scholarship recipients. The programme begins at World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, DC in September 2027 before participants undertake rotations across different offices and functions.

The YPP lasts two years and includes three mandatory rotations of eight months each. Participants gain experience in their primary area of expertise, across institutional functions and through international field exposure. At least one rotation must be based in a country office.

Participants can gain working exposure across the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). Alongside professional assignments, YPs receive leadership and technical development, mentoring, coaching and opportunities to engage with senior World Bank Group leaders.

Candidates apply through one of two broad tracks:

• Operations
• Specialized Functions

Applicants then select the stream that most closely matches their education, technical expertise and professional experience. Current streams span areas such as investment, education, health, economic policy, finance, institutions, poverty, agriculture, climate, environment, water, energy, transport, urban development, digital transformation, legal, IT and strategic planning.

Upon successful completion of the initial two-year programme, participants may be placed in a role for an additional five years based on performance, with the possibility of further contract renewal.

Applicants must:

• Hold the nationality of a World Bank Group member country.
• Provide an officially issued passport or equivalent document confirming nationality.
• Hold at least a graduate-level degree or higher qualification in a relevant field.
• Complete the required graduate-level qualification before the September 2027 programme start.
• Have 2–6 years of relevant professional experience in the selected work area.
• Have technical expertise and experience relevant to the YPP stream selected.
• Have an excellent command of spoken and written English.
• Meet the World Bank Group’s employment eligibility requirements.
• Not be a current World Bank Group employee holding a term, open, short-term or extended-term appointment.
• Meet the World Bank Group’s rules concerning certain close relatives employed within the organisation.
• Be willing and able to work at World Bank Group offices internationally during programme rotations.

For applicants pursuing a doctorate, full-time doctoral research in a relevant field may count towards the required experience. The doctoral work must also be substantially complete, with required written work submitted before the September start date.

Successful Young Professionals receive:

• A two-year GF-level staff appointment.
• A salary determined according to World Bank Group criteria.
• A comprehensive employee benefits package.
• Three mandatory 8-month professional rotations.
• At least one rotation in a World Bank Group country office.
• Cross-institutional experience across the World Bank Group.
• Exposure to the World Bank, IFC and MIGA.
• Leadership development training.
• Technical and operational training.
• Dedicated coaching and mentorship.
• Engagement with senior World Bank Group leaders.
• Opportunities to build international professional networks.
• Exposure to development projects and global operations.
• Participation in the World Bank Group’s Young Professionals Academy.
• Language-learning and professional-development opportunities.
• Potential placement in an additional five-year role after successful completion, based on performance.

For candidates invited to qualifying in-person interviews, the World Bank Group states that it covers and arranges travel, accommodation and reasonable expenses associated with the interview.

Applicants should prepare the following official documents:

• CV/résumé – ideally one page and no longer than two pages.
• Passport photo page confirming date of birth and primary nationality.
• Equivalent identity document if an official passport is not currently available.
• Academic transcript(s) confirming postgraduate education.
• Enrolment letter(s) where relevant, confirming postgraduate study and expected completion date.

The online application also requires applicants to complete written application components, including:

• Selection of the most appropriate YPP stream.
• Up to two alternative streams where appropriate.
• A short response of up to 250 words explaining qualifications relevant to the selected stream.
• Two personal statements of up to 400 words each addressing prompts in the application form.
• Information demonstrating technical skills, experience, motivation and potential contribution to the World Bank Group.

The World Bank Group assesses candidates on factors including:

• Fit between the applicant’s technical expertise and selected YPP stream.
• Relevant professional experience.
• Technical depth and breadth.
• Quality of academic and professional background.
• Motivation for joining the World Bank Group.
• Potential contribution to the organisation’s development mission.
• Quantitative and qualitative thinking.
• Problem-solving ability.
• Leadership capability.
• Verbal and written communication.
• Ability to work effectively in teams.
• Sound professional and business judgement.
• Commitment to World Bank Group values and mission.
• Performance in technical assessments.
• Performance in leadership assessments.
• Performance during panel interviews and case-study exercises.

The official selection timeline states that the full applicant pool is reviewed and approximately the top 10% proceed from the longlist stage.

• Begin a professional career within one of the world’s leading international development institutions.
• Gain experience across the World Bank, IFC and MIGA.
• Work on real global development challenges and projects.
• Build technical expertise through different institutional and country-office assignments.
• Gain professional experience beyond a single country or department.
• Receive structured leadership, technical and professional development.
• Access mentoring, coaching and senior-leadership engagement.
• Build an international network across the World Bank Group.
• Develop a potential long-term career pathway following successful completion of the YPP.