The World Bank says it will be accepting applications for the 2020 cohort of its Young Professionals Program in June 2019.
The Young Professionals Program, which lasts for two years, is a World Bank initiative that gives talented young people from across the world the opportunity to gain high-level technical experience by working on some of the bank’s global projects and specialized teams.
It’s typically open to individuals with a demonstrable interest in international development, who have formal training and skill in fields relevant to the work with which the bank is involved. This includes economics, finance, education, public health, engineering, urban planning, and social sciences. There’s also a strong preference for women and persons with disability.
Since its inception, over 1,800 people have gone through the program. Many of them have since taken up roles in public policy making and execution, as well as social development projects, either within their home countries or internationally as full-time staff of the World Bank Group.
This year, between 45 and 50 young professionals will be selected to take part in a structured development program and will be offered a five-year renewable term contract.
Benefits You Could Enjoy as a World Bank Group Professional
Applicants who scale through the selection and interview process can expect to enjoy the following benefits:
•Valuable professional experience working in technical and administrative roles within the World Bank.
•Field trips to developing countries and interactions with World Bank Group clients.
•Training for competencies required for an entry-level job at the World Bank.
•Mentoring from program alumni and technical experts.
•An internationally competitive salary.
•Insurance programs and pension plans.
Eligibility
These are the qualifications you should possess if you will be applying for the program.
- Citizenship of a member country of the World Bank Group (you meet this criterion if you’re a Nigerian).
- Born on or after October 1, 1987.
- Masters or Ph.D. holder with at least three years of relevant work experience especially related to development or continued academic study at the doctoral level.
- Must be fluent in English.
- Demonstrable passion for international development.
- Outstanding academic credentials.
- Excellent team leadership skills.
How to Apply
The World Bank will be accepting applications for the Young Professionals Program from June 1-June 30, 2019. Applicants will be required to write and submit a 1,000-word essay describing how they could deploy their skills and experience at the World Bank to aid its push for sustainable economic growth, invest in people, and enable buffers against global economic shocks for developing countries. The essay could focus on a particular country or region so that it is more specific in its prescriptions and easier to evaluate.
The essay should be submitted along with such credentials as the applicant’s CV, educational certificates and transcripts, Ph.D. dissertation or Master’s thesis topic (with a short summary) by uploading it on the bank’s website, through an account you will open there.
If you’re applying but don’t have an account on the World Bank’s website, click here to open one.
Note that you have to complete the online registration in one session.
The Selection Process
Here’s how the section process will proceed.
June-July: The applicant’s submissions will be reviewed to ensure that they meet the stated criteria for selection.
August-September: A second review takes place to ascertain which applications should qualify for the interview stage.
September-October: Notifications are sent to applicants who are adjudged to have qualified for an interview with the World Bank which will take place in one of three locations: Washington DC, USA; Paris, France; and Dakar, Senegal.
October-December: Interviews hold.
January 2020: Persons qualified for the Young Professionals Program are contacted and informed of their selection.
September 2020: The YPP 2020 program commences.
Click here to apply for the Young Professionals Program.
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