- Duration: The core program lasts two years.
- Contract: Upon successful completion of the program, participants may be appointed for an additional five-year term, subject to performance and applicable renewal conditions.
- Appointment Type: Two-year term appointment at the GF level.
- Rotations: Participants complete three mandatory eight-month rotations.
- Rotation Structure: One rotation in the participant’s primary field of expertise, one cross-institutional rotation, and at least one rotation in a country office.
- Location: All participants begin at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, D.C. Subsequent rotation locations are determined according to program requirements, business needs, and development objectives.
- Institutions: Participants may gain experience across the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
- Career Tracks: Operations Track and Specialized Functions Track.
- Fields Available for the 2026 Cohort: Investment, education, health, social protection, economic policy, finance, competitiveness and innovation, institutions, poverty and equity, agriculture, climate, environment, social development, water, energy and extractives, sustainable infrastructure finance, transport, urban development, digital transformation, and legal affairs.
- Application Opening Date: September 1, 2026.
- Application Method: Applications are submitted online through the World Bank Group Careers portal.
- Required Documents: A résumé, preferably one page and no more than two pages; a passport biodata page to verify date of birth and primary nationality; and proof of academic qualifications, such as transcripts or an enrollment letter confirming the graduate degree and expected completion date.
- Interviews and Assessments: December 2026 to January 2027.
- Final Selection Announcement: Late January 2027 to early February 2027.
- New Cohort Start Date: September 2027 in Washington, D.C.
- Salary and Financial Benefits: Selected participants receive a salary and benefits according to the World Bank Group’s employment policies. Individual negotiation of salary and benefits is not permitted.
Publish Date
9/27/2026
Application Deadline
9/30/2026
Opportunity Type
Jobs
Publisher
Foras Khadra
Available Countries
All World, The Arab World, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros
Description
The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is the World Bank Group’s flagship leadership and professional development program. It targets highly qualified professionals interested in international development and provides participants with opportunities to develop their technical expertise, gain international professional experience, and contribute to projects addressing global development challenges.
Participants begin at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, D.C., and complete three mandatory rotations. These include one rotation in their primary area of expertise, one cross-institutional rotation within the World Bank Group, and at least one rotation in a World Bank country office. The program also includes technical and leadership training, professional mentoring, and direct interaction with senior World Bank Group officials.
Details
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must hold at least a graduate degree or higher in a relevant field. The degree must be completed before the program begins in September.
- Applicants must have two to six years of relevant professional experience, calculated as of September 1, 2026.
- Professional experience is calculated from the date of the applicant’s first full-time professional experience after completing a bachelor’s degree.
- For PhD candidates, full-time academic research in a relevant field may count toward the required professional experience, provided that the PhD is substantially completed and all required written work has been submitted before the program begins in September.
- There is no minimum or maximum age requirement. Eligibility is based on meeting the professional experience requirements rather than age.
- Excellent English language proficiency, both written and spoken, is required.
- Proficiency in additional languages is considered an advantage.
- Applicants must be citizens of a member country of the World Bank Group.
- Applicants must not be current employees of the World Bank Group at the time of application, including staff with term, open-ended, short-term, or extended-term appointments.
- Applicants are not eligible if they currently have an active contract with the World Bank Group as an individual contractor.
- Former World Bank Group employees may apply if they meet the other eligibility requirements, unless restricted by applicable Group policies or directives.
- Applicants must disclose relatives covered by the World Bank Group’s employment eligibility policies. Certain relationships may affect eligibility or result in additional restrictions.
- Applicants select one primary career track and may select two additional tracks. They must provide information about their education, professional experience, eligibility, and supporting documents.
- The application includes two written statements, each of up to 400 words.
- Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide contact information for two professional references.
Opportunity Benefits
- International professional experience within the World Bank Group.
- The opportunity to work on projects and issues related to global development challenges.
- Three mandatory professional rotations providing diverse experience across fields and institutions.
- The opportunity to work at World Bank Group headquarters and in at least one country office.
- Potential experience across the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA.
- Specialized technical and leadership training.
- Professional mentoring and career guidance.
- Direct interaction with senior World Bank Group officials.
- Opportunities to build an international professional network.
- An initial two-year appointment, with the possibility of moving to an additional five-year appointment after successful completion of the program, subject to performance.
- Salary and employment benefits according to World Bank Group policies.
- Eligible spouses and dependents of non-U.S. staff members may be eligible for G-4 dependent visas in accordance with applicable regulations.