Minimum graduate-level degree or a higher qualification in a relevant field, completed before September start date.
2 to 6 years of professional experience in the related work area. If you are pursuing a doctorate, full-time doctoral research studies in a relevant field at an accredited institution may count towards the required work experience, and the degree must be substantially complete with all the written work submitted before the September start date.
An excellent command of spoken and written English is mandatory. Fluency in additional languages is considered an advantage and may strengthen your application.
expert-quote, expert-quote-slider
For me, the YPP has been an incredibly valuable learning opportunity to understand what makes the World Bank such a unique institution. Seeing firsthand and contributing to how it brings together deep technical and analytical expertise, policy engagement, and financial support for countries in pursuit of development and poverty reduction worldwide has been one of the most meaningful parts of my YPP experience.
Daniel
Pauline Kwamboka Sitima
Young Professional Program
false
expert-quote, expert-quote-slider
What drew me to the Young Professional Program was a simple belief that finance, done right, can change lives – not just balance sheets. And what has kept me inspired is discovering that I am not alone in that belief. Being surrounded by people who genuinely care about what they do, and why they do it, makes me proud to show up to work every day.
Eskay
Eskay
Young Professional Program
false
expert-quote, expert-quote-slider
As an Agriculture Young Professional in MENAAP, I have the opportunity to engage firsthand with global development challenges and the difficult questions behind them. For example, how do we best invest to reconstruct the agricultural sector in post-conflict Syria? What makes it possible to engage with these challenges effectively is the guidance of mentors and senior colleagues who challenge my thinking and support me when the work becomes complex.
Bruno
Eskay
Young Professional Program
false
December 2026 – January 2027
Final Selection Notification
Late January 2027 – Early February 2027
Is there an age requirement for the YPP?
There is no age requirement. Eligibility is based on the approved professional-experience requirement, not age.
I have less than 2 years or more than 6 years of experience, am I eligible to apply?
No, you must have at least two and no more than six years of qualifying full-t i me professional experience as of 1 Sep 2026.
Can a current or former World Bank Group staff or Independent Contractor (IC) apply?
If you have an active contract with the World Bank Group (WBG) as an Independent Contractor, you are not eligible for the YPP. Former WBG staff may apply if they otherwise meet the criteria, unless an applicable WBG policy, directive, or procedure states otherwise.
What is the date at which the years of experience are calculated?
Years of professional experience are calculated from the date of your earliest full-time professional experience after completing your undergraduate degree.
When should my term with the World Bank Group end to be eligible to apply?
You must not be a WBG Staff in Active Service at the time of your application.
I am a national of a non-WBG Member country, am I eligible to apply?
Yes, you are eligible to apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.
What is the applicable employment eligibility policy?
You must disclose relatives covered by the applicable WBG employment-eligibility policies and directives which can be accessed
here. Some relationships may make an applicant ineligible; others may require safeguards concerning reporting lines, supervision, assignment, or routine professional contract. Review the official definitions and requirements before applying.
The stream I want to apply for is not listed. What can I do?
YPP streams reflect current WBG business needs and may vary by application cycle. If your preferred stream is not offered, apply only if another available stream genuinely matches your qualifications and career goals. You may also identify up to two additional streams for consideration within the same application.
What can I expect in the YPP application and selection process?
In the application, you will: select one primary stream and up to two optional alternatives; provide your contact information, education credentials, experience, and eligibility information; upload the required documents; and complete two written statements of up to 400 words each. Review the description and qualifications for each available stream before choosing.
What else should I expect to be able to respond to in my application?
Learn about the WBG mission, values, Scorecard, and the work of your selected stream. Review relevant projects, research, data, and strategy documents available through the WBG website. Focus on understanding the development challenges your stream addresses and how your experience could contribute.
Our work involves focus on global development across sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP), and South Asia.), The YPs bring distinctive technical skills and may select a stream that best fits their educational and professional background such as:
List all the streams that are open for application in the format below:
Investment
People – Education
People – Health
People – Social Protection
Prosperity – Economic Policies
Prosperity – Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation
Prosperity – Institutions
Prosperity – Poverty and Equity
Planet – Agriculture
Planet – Climate
Planet – Environment
Planet – Social
Planet – Water
Infrastructure – Energy and Extractives
Infrastructure – Sustainable Infrastructure Finance
Infrastructure – Transport
Infrastructure – Urban Development
Digital – Digital Transformation
Legal
When you select a stream in the application form, you will see the qualifications associated with it Read these carefully alongside the stream descriptions on each institution's, unit's, or stream's webpage to understand what is expected of YPP candidates in that area. You can explore the streams in advance by visiting their respective websites and reviewing the type of work they do — including operations, projects, analytical work, and research , — most of which is publicly available under our open access to information policy. The application form also includes two short written statements (up to 400 words each), where you can speak to both your general and stream-specific qualifications for the YPP. The prompts are designed to explore your motivation for joining us and to give us a sense of how you think about — and would approach — the challenges and opportunities central to our work and mission.
How should I decide which stream to apply for?
Choose the primary stream that most closely matches your education, technical expertise, and professional experience. Review the stream's work and qualifications and use the optional additional preferences only where your background credibly aligns.
I hear the program is competitive. What would increase my chances of success?
A strong application clearly demonstrates your fit with the selected stream. Use specific examples to show the depth of your technical expertise, the results of your work, how you approach complex problems, and how your conduct reflects WBG values. Answer the questions directly and accurately.
Do I need to provide references?
If you are short - listed, we will ask you to provide contact information for two references. References should come from your professional network; doctoral candidates may also use appropriate academic references. Your references will receive instructions by email.
What else should I be doing to prepare?
We appreciate your interest in the Young Professionals Program (YPP) and recognize a strong motivation to engage with the World Bank Group’s mission and work.
Learn about the WBG mission, values, Scorecard, and your selected stream. Review relevant projects, research, data, and strategy documents available through the WBG website. Focus on understanding the development challenges your stream addresses and how your experience could contribute.
The World Bank Group’s Access to Information policy enables broad public access to the information about our work, projects under preparation, projects under implementation, analytic and advisory activities, development data, world development reports, and strategy reports and proceedings.
What is the selection process?
The selection process may include:
- Eligibility and Application Review;
- Asynchronous Video Interview, Stream Specific Assessment and Virtual Job Try-out;
- Panel interview; and Assessment Center,
4. Final decision.
We will tell candidates in advance which stages apply to them.
Candidates advancing to the final stages are invited to a panel interview and assessment center, both conducted in-person in December and January in Washington DC, a country office, or online. The YPP team will work with invited candidates to plan and confirm interview dates and travel arrangements. Please note that attendance on the required dates is mandatory, and we are unable to reschedule or offer alternate dates. However, if you cannot attend on your assigned date, we will try our best to accommodate/offer alternate dates within the same interview period. In exceptional cases where dates cannot be accommodated and in-person travel is not possible, accommodations can be made for both the interview and the assessment center to take place online.
The panel interview lasts approximately 45 to 50 minutes , and may include technical experts, senior WBG staff, and an HR representative. The assessment center includes a collaborative case exercise and a short, written reflection. Together, these activities assess technical depth and breadth , quantitative and qualitative thinking, problem-solving, communication ability, judgement, self-reflection, motivation, and alignment with WBG mission and values.
The assessment center takes approximately one hour and consists of a group exercise (around 45 minutes) based on a WBG case study, which ends with a joint presentation to a representative, followed by a written reflection (around 15 minutes). The group exercise assesses teamwork, communication, leadership skills, and WBG values, while the written reflection is used to evaluate concise written communication, business judgment, and self-reflection.
If I am invited to interview for the YPP, what should I do to prepare effectively?
You will be asked questions in your declared stream of technical specialty; experts in that stream will ask you about your work or a specific issue in that field, as well as related issues from the experts in other sectors. The interview helps us learn more about you, how you think, structure and solve problems, and assess your technical depth and breadth. We may ask you additional questions, such as the ones that help us assess your comfort with our ethical principles and shared values.
What can I bring for the interview?
Follow the instructions in your interview invitation. For an in-person interview, bring the requested identification and materials (national ID for verification purposes and laptop). For an online interview, test your connection and equipment in advance. Unless instructed otherwise, do not consult prepared notes or outside sources during the interview.
When are the offers issued?
Prospective Young Professionals (YPs) will be informed of hiring decisions in late January or early February.
What type of employment will I be offered if my application is successful?
Successful candidates receive an initial two-year GF-level term appointment renewable for an additional 5 years based on performance. The offer letter will provide the applicable salary, benefits, duty station, terms and conditions.
Can I negotiate my salary and benefits?
No. YPP salary and benefits are determined using established WBG criteria and are not individually negotiated. Your offer letter will provide the details applicable to your appointment.
I am a non-U.S. citizen; will my spouse get a dependent visa if I am hired as a Young Professional?
Yes, spouses and dependents of WBG staff are eligible to apply for G-4 Dependent Visas.
I am a domestic partner (not legally married), will I get a dependent visa if my spouse is accepted as a Young Professional?
For purposes of G-4 visa eligibility, the U.S. Department of State recognizes only legally married spouses. Accordingly, domestic partners, regardless of whether the relationship is same-sex or opposite-sex, do not qualify for G-4 dependent status.
Can I apply again if I have applied before?
You are welcome to reapply if you meet the eligibility criteria. You might want to assess whether your application is likely to be competitive by ensuring that you have continued to develop professionally since the previous application. We do not advise reusing your prior responses (particularly if the prompts in the application form have changed).
Can I apply to more than one position?
No. Applicants may submit only one application to the Young Professionals Program. As part of your application, you may indicate up to two additional streams for consideration if your profile aligns with the requirements.
Please note that submitting more than one application will result in disqualification.
If my application is successful, can I defer my start date?
No, the YPP includes cohort-based participation and learning that is core to the program. We do not defer the start date.
Can I choose my location during the YPP?
All WBG YPs start their assignments at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, DC. Rotation locations are determined by program requirements, business needs and development objectives; at least one rotation is based in a country offices.
Would you accept a late application?
No, please plan to apply in advance of the deadline as no late submissions, applications submitted by email, or changes to the application will be accepted after the deadline.
What happens if I am not selected?
There are other ways to join the World Bank Group. Please visit our main
Careers page to learn more and see open positions.
I require special accommodations. What can I do?
We are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need accommodation or other support to participate, contact our recruitment team at ypp@worldbankgroup.org at any stage. We will handle your request confidentially and in accordance with applicable WBG policies and directives.
Why am I not receiving status updates about my application?
In order to receive status updates about your application in your inbox, please ensure that you sign up for an account on the WBG Careers website in addition to submitting your application. Status updates will also be available under the specific requisition you have applied for on the WBG Careers website.
