World Bank Group Young Professionals Program

Applications are now open for the World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP) to develop future leaders to collaborate effectively across the institutions on joint WBG solutions to development challenges.

Donor Name: World Bank Group

Country: Global

Type of Grant: Program

Deadline: 07/31/2023

Details:

The WBG YPP is a two-year leadership development program at the start of a five-year employment contract with the World Bank, IFC or MIGA. Young Professionals (YPs) start the program in Washington, DC, where they engage in intensive training—on-the-job and in the classroom—learning the fundamentals of leadership and development operations across institutions, and how to identify opportunities for joint impact.

The World Bank and IFC have merged their respective Young Professionals Programs into one World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP). The program now recruits on behalf of three institutions (the World Bank, IFC and MIGA).

YPP Business Areas

World Bank
- Global Practices
  - Agriculture & Food
  - Digital Development
  - Education
  - Energy & Extractives
  - Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy
  - Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation
  - Governance
  - Health, Nutrition & Population
  - Jobs and Development
  - Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment
  - Poverty
  - Public Private Partnerships
  - Social Protection
  - Social Sustainability & Inclusion
  - Transport
  - Urban Development, Disaster Risk, Resilience & Land
  - Water
- Global Themes
  - Climate Change
IFC
- Products
  - Advisory
  - Blended Concessional Finance
  - Derivatives and Structured Finance
  - Equity
  - Loans
  - Mobilization
  - Trade and Commodity Finance
- Sectors
  - Agribusiness & Forestry
  - Energy
  - Financial Institutions
  - FinTech
  - Health & Education
  - Manufacturing
  - Mining
  - Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure
  - Telecom, Media & Technology
  - Tourism, Retail & Property
  - Transport
- Areas of Expertise
  - Climate Finance
  - Private Equity Funds
  - Public Private Partnerships
  - Treasury
  - Upstream Market Creation
  - Venture Capital
MIGA
- Products
  - Credit Enhancement
  - Political Risk Insurance
- Areas of Expertise
  - Accounting/Finance
  - Economics
  - Environmental & Social Management
  - Export Credit
  - Legal
  - Project Finance
- Themes
  - Climate Change
  - Corporate Finance Services
  - Public-Private Partnerships
  - Risk Management
  - Sustainable Energy

Fieldwork Focus

The WBG YPP offers Young Professionals a unique opportunity to work on the frontlines of international development. Candidates should be willing to relocate to field-based assignments, especially those supporting client countries experiencing Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) and other challenging environments.

Key Program Features

Professional Experience: YPs are full-time employees, making significant contributions to their respective unit’s work program, while building networks and knowledge across the Bank Group through the YPP. They often join field missions, where they work on the frontlines of WBG operations, learning key aspects of the work and directly engaging with the clients.
Leadership Development: Through the WBG YPP curriculum, YPs develop the foundational knowledge to contribute to the business and the competencies to lead. Activities range from leadership and professional development workshops to networking, mentorship and conversations with WBG leadership.
Training on WBG Policies, Products & Operations: YPs engage in intensive training on the policies, products and operations of the World Bank, IFC and MIGA. This aspect of the WBG YPP curriculum ensures that YPs know how to operationalize joint WBG solutions to development challenges, and how to retain and apply this knowledge for years to come.
Global Rotations across WBG: YPs participate in at least one rotation within their home institution, with some engaging in additional rotations to another institution, with the goal of developing and applying skills across the business. Rotations are a core component of the curriculum, providing YPs the exposure to understand how the institutions work (and can work together) as well as how to align their skills to priority areas, like countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence (FCV), and other challenging environments.
Coaching & Mentoring: YPs are assigned several mentors at the peer and departmental level. Mentors can provide advice on various topics ranging from settling into Washington, DC to identifying career opportunities throughout the YP experience, and beyond.
Networking Events: In addition to the program orientation and graduation ceremonies, the WBG YPP office organizes regular events for YPs to stay in touch with program alumni, stakeholders and broader WBG staff.
Management Supported Rotations & Job Placements: YPs are provided management-level support in their transitions to rotations and post-YPP job placements, ensuring their skills are best placed across the business.

Compensation and Benefits

The WBG YPP offers a competitive salary and benefits package as part of a 5-year term contract. Benefits include health, life and accident insurance, a pension plan and possible relocation and mobility benefits depending on WBG guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the WBG YPP, applicants must:
- Be born on or after October 1, 1991
- Have a master’s or doctoral degree
- Specialize in a field relevant to YPP Business Areas
- Demonstrate relevant professional experience or continued study at the doctoral level
- Be fluent in English
- The Bank’s Group recruitment policy is to hire staff of the highest caliber, on as wide a geographical basis as possible, with preference to nationals of WBG member countries or countries of operations.
Graduate degree requirements:
- For World Bank & MIGA placement: Complete a relevant master’s degree by September 2023 or PhD before September 2024. Fields of study should be related to a World Bank or MIGA Business Area.
- For IFC placement: Complete a relevant graduate degree by September 2024. Fields of study should be related to an IFC Business Area, including but not limited to a Master’s of Business Administration (or equivalent), Economics, Finance, International Relations, Science and Engineering.
Professional experience requirements:
- For World Bank & MIGA placement: Demonstrate 3+ years of relevant experience, or the equivalent in continued study at the doctoral level.
- For IFC placement: Demonstrate 4+ years of relevant experience in finance, project/program development, economic development and/or consulting. Certifications such as the CFA are a plus.
To be competitive, applicants should additionally:
- Display a commitment and passion for international development.
- Possess outstanding academic credentials.
- Exhibit excellent client engagement, communication and team leadership skills.
- Demonstrate knowledge of relevant sector trends.
The following attributes are a plus:
- Work experience in emerging markets or developing countries.
- Full proficiency in one of the following official WBG languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.