World Bank Group - Young Professionals Program (YPP)
Shape the Future. Start Here.
For over 60 years, the Young Professionals Program (YPP) has been both a highly competitive and uniquely rewarding opportunity to join the World Bank Group. As a premier international organization at the forefront of development, we look for prospective Young Professionals (YPs) to join us from around the world with diverse backgrounds, exceptional technical skills, outstanding leadership potential, and a demonstrated commitment to our mission and values. Working across the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA, our YPs help solve the world’s most pressing development challenges to improve the lives of millions globally.
YPs join the World Bank Group’s Operations and Specialized function tracks on a two-year term that may be followed by a five-year renewable contract based on performance.
Additionally, YPs take part in a structured learning and talent development journey through our YP Academy. Key elements include technical and operations training, language programs, negotiation and business skills, and leadership development. YPs also receive one-on-one coaching, connect with mentors, and engage in strategy-focused dialogues with senior leaders.
Why Apply
Through our Young Professionals Program (YPP), we select top talent to advance the World Bank Group’s mission. Nearly a thousand YPP alumni work at the World Bank Group today, at the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA. They work across a wide range of sectors and technical streams – from A to W: Agriculture to Water – and on every work program in between. Most hold senior management and technical leadership positions and serve a key role in shaping the future of international development. Our YP community is strong, active, and influential, allowing new YPs the opportunity to build a dynamic professional network within this group and beyond.
If you are looking for an unparalleled opportunity to learn, grow, lead, and have meaningful impact towards a world free of poverty on a livable planet, we invite you to apply to join our team.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in the Young Professionals Program (YPP) and career opportunities at the World Bank Group. We work in every major area of development to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over 130 locations, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions – IBRD and IDA (the World Bank), IFC, MIGA, and ICSID.
The application requires you to select a work program that best matches your expertise and experience.
To support your selection, you will be required to demonstrate your technical expertise and experience (technical depth), ability to work across the World Bank Group and a variety of sectors (technical breadth), and strong leadership potential. Before you begin your application, carefully consider the area you will choose and be prepared to support your selection through your submitted responses and application materials.
Work Programs
Operations Track:
PEOPLE Protecting and investing in human development
• Health
• Social Protection
• Education
PROSPERITY Promoting economic policies for growth
• Economic Policies
• Poverty and Equity
• Finance,Competitiveness and Investment
• Institutions
PLANET Helping protect the planet’s natural resources and promote inclusive growth
• Agriculture
• Climate
• Environment
• Social
• Water
INFRASTRUCTURE Promoting clean energy access, sustainable transport and livable cities
• Energy and Extractives
• Sustainable Infrastructure Finance
• Transport
• Urban Development
DIGITAL Eliminating the digital divide
• Digital Transformation
INVESTMENT (IFC, MIGA) Leveraging capital and expertise to create markets and opportunities
• Advisory
• Blended Concessional Finance
• Derivatives and Structured Finance
• Equity
• Loans
• Mobilization
• Trade and Commodity Finance
• Political Risk Insurance Underwriting
Specialized Functions:
LEGAL Ensuring compliance, providing advise, and protecting the institution
• Project Design
• Corporate Finance
• Law Advisory & Knowledge Services
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOLUTIONS Delivering digital solutions
• Operations Solutions
• Data & Analytical Solutions
• Data Science & Digital Platforms
BUDGET, PERFORMANCE REVIEW, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING Aligning resources, strategy, and impact
• Budget Planning & Allocation
• Internal Controls & Risk Management
• Performance Review & Reporting
Eligibility Requirements
• Minimum master’s degree with 2 – 6 years relevant work experience.
• Nationality of a World Bank Group member country as demonstrated by your officially issued passport or equivalent document.
• Completion of a masters-level degree or equivalent in a relevant field, or a higher qualification in a relevant field, before September 1, 2026. 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 September 1, 2026.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English language (fluency in other languages might be advantageous to your application).
• You are not a World Bank Group staff member nor are you precluded to apply or join the program by the employment eligibility policy from the time of application to the Young Professionals Program.
• You do not hold an ET or ST contract in the Bank.
• You may apply this year if you are a JPA or a former Bank intern (interns should have their appointment end date on or before September 30, 2025).
Contract Start Date and Terms
• The Young Professionals Program does not offer deferred entry and you must be prepared to start full-time employment with the World Bank Group on September 1, 2026.
• If you are invited to join the Young Professionals Program, your offer will include a 2-year term contract as a mid-career staff member (GF level), that may be followed by a 5-year renewable contract based on performance.
• You also might be eligible for a G-type visa for you and your dependents.
• You may be located in Washington, DC or any of the World Bank Group country offices worldwide, and must be prepared to relocate accordingly.
Application Process
• The application portal opens on September 1, 2025 and closes on September 30, 2025 at 11:59 UTC (late applications will not be considered).
• Please have the following ready to upload at the time of your application:
o Your CV/resume (ideally 1 page and no longer than 2 pages)
o Passport photo page to help confirm your birth date and primary nationality
o Transcript(s) or enrollment letter(s) to confirm your post-graduate educational degrees and (expected) completion dates
• Be sure your work program selection is clearly supported in your application by your demonstrated skills, education, and experience.
• Successful candidates are expected to be invited to interviews and assessments in December 2025 through January 2026.
• We plan to inform the selected candidates in late-January 2026.
To learn more and apply: www.worldbankgroup.org/YPP
