The WBG Youth Summit is the World Bank Group’s premier event for young leaders worldwide. As a delegate, you will have the opportunity to engage with global development leaders, participate in high-level discussions, and contribute to shaping solutions to pressing global challenges. Delegates are emerging changemakers who are passionate about development issues and eager to collaborate with like-minded peers. We are looking for students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs with a passion for technology, development policy, youth employment and inclusive economic growth.

APPLY HERE NOW! 

Components of the Delegate Track:

Delegates will actively participate in various components of the WBG Youth Summit, which include:

• Keynote Addresses and Panel Discussions: Engage with world-renowned speakers, policymakers, and development experts on global challenges and innovative solutions.
• Innovation Lab: Take part in hands-on, interactive workshops to co-create innovative solutions for real World Bank Group Projects (for in-person delegates only).
• Interactive Q&A and Polling: Engage with speakers and panelists through live Q&A sessions and polls.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals, World Bank Group representatives, private-sector partners and fellow young leaders from around the world.
• Career Development Session: Get an opportunity to learn about different internships and programs that can launch your career in international development. Past presenters include colleagues from WBG, WB Treasury, IMF, UN, IDB, etc. 
• Pitch Competition Final: Watch the Pitch Competition final live, where the top finalists showcase their groundbreaking youth-led initiatives and projects in a Shark Tank-style competition. Vote for the solution you think should win the Audience Choice Award. 

Perks of Being a Delegate

• Be part of a prestigious global platform for youth-driven impact and innovation.
• Gain insights from industry leaders, policymakers, and development professionals.
• Expand your global network with like-minded individuals and experts.
• Join a network of 10,000+ alumni coming from 170+ countries. All delegates receive an official certificate of participation.
• Enhance your leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in a dynamic and engaging environment.

By becoming a delegate, you will not only contribute to meaningful discussions but also gain valuable knowledge and connections to further your impact in the development space. Apply to be part of this transformative experience!

HACKATHON

On April 25-26, the World Bank Group Youth Summit Hackathon 2026 will bring together young innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs from around the world virtually to collaboratively design and prototype technology-enabled solutions aligned with this year's Summit theme, "FutureWorks: Designing Jobs for the Digital Age."

In partnership with Hack-Nation, a global platform that mobilizes developers and innovators to solve real-world challenges through competitions and digital innovation programs, the event will provide participants with an opportunity to engage in hands-on innovation and experimentation while working in teams to develop early-stage prototypes addressing global development challenges.

Selected teams (3-5 people) will be invited to present their solutions in-person during the World Bank Group Youth Summit on June 11-12, 2026 in Washington, DC. Apply now before April 17th and make sure to add the referral code: Hack-With-World-Bank-2026.

Apply Here NOW (Log in via Google to access the form)

Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab will be a two-day, hands-on case challenge designed for all in-person participants of the World Bank Group Youth Summit 2026. As a core experiential learning component of the Summit, this track will offer practical exposure to development problem-solving. Working in teams, delegates will develop solution-oriented responses to cases inspired by real World Bank Group operations and global development priorities, drawing on publicly available information.

The Innovation Lab will bring together delegates to collaborate on real-world development challenges, providing a structured platform to engage with complex policy and implementation issues while contributing fresh, solution-oriented perspectives.

Participants will be organized into small, diverse teams and will be supported throughout the process by experienced facilitators and World Bank Group experts. Through a series of guided workshops, teams will analyze development challenges, assess trade-offs, and develop practical and innovative solution concepts. Teams will present their proposals to expert juries, receiving feedback grounded in operational experience and real-world feasibility.

The Innovation Lab will strengthen participants’ skills in research, analytical thinking, collaboration, and communication, while also offering opportunities for mentorship, peer learning, and professional networking.

Format

The Innovation Lab will be delivered through interactive sessions over the two days of the Youth Summit and will engage the in-person delegates with WBG volunteers and project leads.

Participants will be assigned to thematic rooms aligned with the Summit subthemes and divided into teams of 7–8 delegates through random allocation to encourage diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Cases will be structured around key development areas aligned with the 2026 Youth Summit themes and the World Bank Group’s operational priorities. Each subtheme will be translated into a practical, solution-oriented challenge, enabling delegates to apply these focus areas to real-world problem-solving while generating ideas that reflect both innovation and operational relevance.

FAQ

1. What do you mean by innovation?

    

   Innovation refers to the identification and application of new or improved approaches to address development challenges or unmet needs. From a development perspective, innovation is a solution with the potential to accelerate impact, enhance effectiveness, or improve delivery at scale. Innovation may be driven by technology, new partnerships, policy or institutional approaches, creative financing mechanisms, or improved service delivery models. Innovation remains central to achieving sustainable and inclusive development outcomes.

    

2. What are the Innovation Lab subthemes?

    

   Innovation Lab cases are structured around three subthemes aligned with the 2026 Youth Summit theme and the World Bank Group’s operational priorities: Jobs - Examining how policy, investment, and cross-sector collaboration can expand pathways to work - across formal and informal economies, in urban and rural settings, and ensure the digital transition closes opportunity gaps rather than widens them. Entrepreneurship – Strengthening MSMEs as drivers of job creation and inclusive growth, with emphasis on access to finance, women’s entrepreneurship, and early-stage capital constraints in low-income and fragile contexts. Education and Skills – Addressing skills mismatches in the digital economy through solutions that better connect education systems with labor market needs and promote inclusive access to skills development.

    

3. What is the difference between the Innovation Lab and the Youth Summit Pitch Competition?

    

   The Innovation Lab is a mandatory, team-based case challenge for all in-person Youth Summit delegates and is fully integrated into the two-day Summit program. The Pitch Competition is a separate, competitive process open to applicants globally, culminating during the Summit. Participants pitch predeveloped business or policy-level ideas that have been selected through a prior application and review process.

    

4. When and where will the Innovation Lab take place?

    

   The Innovation Lab will take place on June 11–12, 2026, fully integrated into the two days of the World Bank Group Youth Summit. While the Summit is held in a hybrid format, the Innovation Lab is in person only and will be hosted at the World Bank Group Headquarters in Washington, DC.

    

5. What kind of work will delegates do during the Innovation Lab?

    

   Delegates will work on cases inspired by real World Bank Group operations, selected to reflect key development challenges linked to the Summit subthemes. Teams will analyze problem statements, assess tradeoffs, and develop feasible, solution-oriented proposals. Facilitators and World Bank Group experts will provide guidance throughout the process.

    

6. Who will participate in the Innovation Lab?

    

   All delegates selected to attend the 2026 World Bank Group Youth Summit in person are required to participate in the Innovation Lab. Approximately 250–300 delegates will take part.

    

7. Do participants apply individually or as part of a team?

    

   Participants apply individually to attend the Youth Summit. Innovation Lab teams are formed during the event through random allocation to encourage diverse perspectives and test collaboration across disciplines and backgrounds.

    

8. How will the Innovation Lab be structured?

    

   Participants are assigned to thematic rooms based on subthemes and divided into teams of 7–8 delegates.

    

   Day 1: Case introduction, facilitated team workshops, and first round presentations within thematic rooms.

    

   Day 2: Final presentations by shortlisted teams to a jury of World Bank Group senior leaders and external partners. The Innovation Lab consists of four interactive sessions (50–90 minutes each) over the two days.

    

9. Is prior case or consulting experience required?

    

   No prior experience is required. The Innovation Lab is designed as a learning experience, and guidance is provided throughout. Teams may include participants with varied backgrounds and levels of experience.

    

10. Is there a participation fee?

     

    No. Participation in the Innovation Lab is free for all selected in-person delegates.

     

11. Who designs the cases? 

Cases are developed by the World Bank Group Youth Summit team in collaboration with World Bank Group staff and volunteers and are based on publicly shareable information aligned with WBG operational priorities.

12. Who facilitates the Innovation Lab?

The Innovation Lab is facilitated by experienced facilitators and World Bank Group experts who support teams through each stage of the process, ensuring productive discussions and effective collaboration.

 13. How is the winning team selected, and what do participants gain?

Teams are evaluated through two rounds of jury presentations based on the quality, feasibility, and potential development impact of their proposed solutions. All participants gain hands-on exposure to World Bank Group–relevant problem-solving, mentorship from experts, and opportunities for peer learning and networking. The winning team(s) will receive a prize (details to be confirmed).

  Click here to learn more about the committee members