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YPP Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

  1. For 60 years, the Young Professionals Programs of the World Bank and IFC have recruited over 1,800 people from nearly 120 countries, who now range from new staff to senior management of the World Bank Group. The programs were established to attract diverse young professionals who demonstrate a commitment to international development, academic success, professional achievement and leadership potential.

    On June 1, 2020, the World Bank and IFC merged their respective Young Professionals Programs, and included MIGA, to create a single program (The WBG YPP). Building on the rich legacy of its predecessor programs, the WBG YPP aims to develop future leaders to collaborate effectively across our institutions on joint WBG solutions to development challenges. 

     

  2. To be eligible, candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1991 and meet the minimum eligibility requirements of one of our hiring institutions. Please review eligibility requirements on our website, for more information.

  3. There is no flexibility on the age requirement. Applicants should be born on or after October 1, 1991. The YPP office will determine eligibility based on the birthdate listed on official passports.

  4. Young Professionals are recruited from around the world, and represent various academic and professional backgrounds relevant to World Bank, IFC and MIGA operations. We are looking for applicants who display a passion for international development, strong academic credentials, relevant professional experience, and leadership potential. The ideal candidate should be able to balance technical depth and breadth with the ability to "see the bigger picture." In addition, successful candidates demonstrate a WBG mindset—a commitment to working across our institutions on joint solutions to development challenges. While candidates are assessed based on these and other competencies, final hiring decisions are based on the business needs of the World Bank Group, which could vary from year to year.

    Please note that we do not hire Young Professionals for our back-office functions such as Accounting, Information Technology, Communications and Human Resources.

  5. Yes. The WBG YPP is a global recruitment program, hiring young development professionals on as wide a geographical basis as possible, with preference to nationals of WBG member countries and countries of operations. Asylum-seekers must have a valid work permit at the time of joining the WBG.  

  6. The WBG YPP hires on behalf of three World Bank Group institutions—each contributing to the development of our client countries with different products and solutions. Applicants are encouraged to become familiar with the development operations of each institution via their websites. Note: WBG YPP recruitment profiles vary from year-to-year and can be reviewed under YPP Hiring Areas. The IFC has expanded profiles to include both investment and IFC 3.0 upstream skills. 

  7. No. There is only one WBG YPP application. On the application, candidates must select the institution they believe best aligns with their skillset. However, applicants can be selected by any hiring institution, based on business need.  That said, placement preferences identified in the application stage do not impact candidacy.  Note: Duplicate applications will not be reviewed and will not increase one’s chances of selection. Applications open July 3 - July 31 for all profiles and will reopen August 15 - September 30 for IFC profiles only. Please check the website for more details.

  8. Every year, the WBG receives thousands of YPP applications for a limited number of positions. It is a highly competitive process, in which successful candidates generally exceed the minimum requirements. 

  9. The WBG YPP recruited a total of 44 Young Professionals (YPs) in 2022. World Bank YPs were 45% PhD holders, representing 20 countries (15% Sub-Saharan African/Caribbean nationals) and were 45% women. IFC YPs were mostly MBA (or other relevant master’s degree) holders representing 10 countries (33% Sub-Saharan African/Caribbean nationals) and were 58% women. Note: WBG YPP selection statistics may vary from year to year. 

  10. YPs are offered five-year term contracts, the terms and conditions of which vary by institution. Candidates will be provided with further detail during the offer stage, in line with the most current policies of their respective hiring institution. 

  11. YPs receive a competitive salary and benefits package as part of the five-year term contract. Benefits include health, life and accident insurance, a pension plan and possible relocation and mobility benefits depending on WBG guidelines. Candidates will be provided with further detail during the offer stage.

  12. The WBG YPP is a 2-year leadership development curriculum at the start of a 5-year employment contract.

    WBG YPs start the program as one cohort in Washington, D.C., where they engage in intensive training on the fundamentals of leadership and operations at the World Bank, IFC and MIGA, and learn how to identify opportunities to collaborate for joint impact. During the two-year curriculum, YPs also engage in mandatory rotations, where their skills can be developed and applied across the business. YPs partake in other career development opportunities such as mentoring, coaching and exposure to WBG’s senior leaders. The curriculum ensures that YPs know how to operationalize joint WBG solutions to development challenges, how to inspire others to do the same, and how to retain and apply this knowledge for years to come.

  13. A rotation is an assignment in another area of our business with the objective of developing new technical or regional skills, adapting to new ways of doing business, expanding professional networks and exploring placement options for final job posts. Rotations are a core component of the program allowing YPs the exposure to understand how our institutions work (and can work together) as well as how to align skills to critical business areas, like countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence (FCV), and other challenging environments.

    WBG YPs will be expected to participate in at least one rotation within their home institution, while some will engage in additional rotations in another institution (World Bank, IFC or MIGA). Field-based rotations will be strongly encouraged.

  14. After graduating from the leadership development program, WBG YPs will be expected to complete the remaining 3 years of their contract in a fitting final job post at the World Bank, IFC or MIGA.  Final posts may be within their initial hiring unit or another. Posts in the field, especially those supporting FCV countries and other challenging environments, will be strongly encouraged. 

  15. Yes. Program management will help YPs navigate these transitions, with the support of senior business leaders.  

  16. Applications will open from July 3 – July 31 for all profiles and will reopen from August 15 – September 30 for IFC profiles only. The application will be published on the WBG YPP website.

    Note: Before applying, ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements and have reviewed the application checklist for required material. Applications must be complete and submitted by 11:59 PM UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) on the last day of the application period. When applying, please use one of the following recommended browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Internet Explorer 10 or higher. 

    • July 3 – July 31: Applications Open for all World Bank, IFC and MIGA profiles
    • August 15 – September 30: Applications Re-Open for IFC profiles only
    • July–August: Applicants screened for minimum eligibility requirements
    • September - October: Technical review of eligible applicants, to determine shortlisted candidates
    • November - January: Assessments and interviews scheduled
    • February: Offers extended and decisions announced to all candidates
    • September: New WBG YPP cohort joins the World Bank Group
  17.  If you are unsure about whether your skills are best fit for the World Bank, IFC or MIGA, we recommend that you submit your application in July (when the recruitment profiles of all institutions will be considered). Note: Only IFC profiles will be reviewed when applications reopen in August 15 - September 30. Please review YPP Business Areas for details on the recruitment profiles and eligibility requirements of each hiring institution. 

  18. No. Only IFC profiles will be reviewed when applications reopen in August 15 - September 30.

  19. Yes. Please ensure your resume/CV includes all relevant work experience, both paid and unpaid. 

  20. No. Candidates should only submit one application. If you are an IFC candidate applying in July, there is no need to submit a second application when applications re-open for IFC later in the summer. Note: Duplicate applications will not be reviewed and will not increase one’s chances of selection.

  21. No. YPs will be reviewed for the unique business needs of each hiring institution. An applicant can be selected by any hiring institution, based on how well their skillset fits that institution’s specific hiring needs.  

  22. All applicants, regardless of when they apply, will receive notification of selection results at the same time.

  23. All IFC applicants will receive selection results after the second application period closes.  

  24. Initial rejection notices will be released on a rolling basis after applications are received. Applicants who advance further will receive additional status notifications as the process moves along. Please review the application timeline for more detail.  

  25. Those who meet the eligibility requirements of the new WBG YPP are welcomed to apply, regardless of how far along they progressed in the application process of previous years. Note: Prior YPP applications will not be valid or accessible. Therefore, you will be required to submit a new application through the WBG YPP application system.  

  26. No. All eligibility requirements are posted on our website. All applicants who meet these requirements are encouraged to apply.  

  27. To strengthen the competitiveness of its selection process and to drive innovation, the WBG YPP will prioritize recruiting external candidates, who can bring new skills to the World Bank Group. As such, the program limits the number of internal candidates accepted into the program. Current term and open-ended WBG staff are ineligible, while consultants are considered for a limited number of WBG YPP positions, which may vary from year to year.

  28. No. Since JPOs are term staff, they are not eligible for the WBG YPP. 

  29. We do not give out specific information on the content of recommendation letters. Please note that letters will only be requested of candidates who advance beyond the eligibility screening stage. The WBG YPP office will be in touch via email with instructions on how to submit. Please see our application timeline for more information.  

  30. Due to the volume of emails received, we are unable to respond to general inquiries about the program, eligibility requirements or application process. Answers to most of these questions can be found on our website.

    If your question is related to:

    • Technical Issues with the Online Application please first check that you are using one of the recommended browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Internet Explorer 10 or higher) and try emptying your cache. Email hrweb@worldbank.org for further assistance;
    • Application Submission please check your primary email address and spam folder for a confirmation of receipt, noting that all required materials must be submitted in one session, through the online application. We are unable to update applications or accept missing materials by email;
    • Application Status & Decisions please note that due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to answer questions related to application status and decisions. All applicants will be informed about their standing in due course. Please check your primary email and spam folder for related notifications. You may also check the status of your application by logging into the application portal.

    Note: Any inquiries that have not been answered by the information included in this FAQ or the WBG YPP website may be directed to youngprofessionals@worldbankgroup.org.

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