World Bank Young Professionals Program 2019

Deadline: July 31, 2018

The application for the 2019 World Bank Young Professionals Program is now open. The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is a starting point for an exciting career at the World Bank Group.

It is a unique opportunity for younger talent who have both a passion for international development and the leadership potential to grow in fascinating top technical and managerial roles in the World Bank Group (WBG). The program is designed for highly qualified and motivated individuals skilled in areas relevant to WBG technical/operations such as economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, agriculture, natural resources and others.

Since its inception, the YP program has hired over 1,700 people who hold or have held positions ranging from entry-level to vice presidents and managing directors. It is a unique opportunity to experience development and gain exposure to the World Bank’s operations and policies.

Every year, around 45 applicants are accepted into the program. Young Professionals are offered a five-year renewable term contract, spend 24 months in a structured development program, and enjoy a variety of benefits and opportunities.

Program Features

• Professional Experience
• Field Work
• Training
• Coaching and Mentoring

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: As an entry-level professional in the WBG, Young Professionals are offered an internationally competitive salary, based on their education and professional experience.
  
• Health, Life, Accident, and Other Insurance Programs: Young Professionals and their families (including declared domestic partners) may choose from three comprehensive medical/dental benefit plans. The WBG also provides basic life and accident insurance to all staff at no cost, and staff can elect optional life and accident insurance plans. The WBG provides disability and workers’ compensation coverage to staff at no cost.
  
• Pension Plan: The WBG sponsors a comprehensive pension plan for eligible staff. Upon separation from the WBG, either a lump sum or a pension will become payable to the staff based on eligibility.
  
• Relocation Benefits: These benefits are only applicable to staff who are not residents of the greater Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area at the time of appointment.
  
• Relocation Travel: The World Bank will bear the cost of one-way transportation of staff and immediate dependent family from the staff member’s residence.
  
• Relocation Shipment: You may choose to have the World Bank handle your shipping arrangements or you may elect the Optional Shipment Grant.
  
• Relocation Grant: A one-time grant is included in the first paycheck to cover the cost of relocation.
  
• Mobility Premium: A financial benefit is provided for a fixed period to cover expenses associated with being an expatriate staff member, based on family size and nationality. This benefit is not available for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents who are based in Washington, DC.
  
• Tax Allowance: U.S. staff receive an additional quarterly payment to cover the federal, state, and local income tax liabilities on their World Bank Group income. Expatriates and U.S. permanent residents do not incur U.S. income tax liability and are thus not eligible for this benefit.
  
• Financial Assistance: The World Bank Group offers several financial assistance programs, including a two-year interest-free settling-in loan to those who relocate upon appointment.

Eligibility

To be competitive for this highly selective program, candidates need to demonstrate a commitment to development, proven academic success, professional achievement, and leadership capability.

They value diversity in their workplace and encourage qualified men and women with diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds to apply.

Minimum Requirements

The following are the minimum requirements to be eligible for the Young Professionals Program.

• Citizenship of a member country of the World Bank Group
• Be born on or after October 1, 1986
• A PhD or Master’s degree and relevant work experience
• Fluency in English
• Full proficiency in one or more of the WBG’s working languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish is desired but not required
• Specialization in a field relevant to the WBG Technical/Operations such as economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, agriculture, natural resources, and others
• At least three years of relevant professional experience related to development or continued academic study at the doctoral level

Additional Qualifications

To be competitive for the limited number of positions, a combination of the following credentials is highly desirable:

• Display a commitment and passion for international development
• Possess outstanding academic credentials
• Exhibit excellent client engagement and team leadership skills
• Have international development country experience

Evaluation Criteria

They assess candidates based on three main competencies:

• Client Orientation
• Professional Expertise
• Team Leadership

Application

Before You Apply, please ensure that:

• You meet the minimum requirements for eligibility for the Young Professionals Program and,
• You have all the information at hand including key dates, an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV), Education Certificates/Transcripts, PhD Dissertation/Master’s Thesis topics (short summary), if applicable, and the Application Essay ready to be uploaded

Application Essay for the 2019 Selection Process

“To meet the goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, the World Bank must work with countries to help them achieve their development priorities.  Doing so will take financial resources, certainly.  But it also requires data, evidence, and knowledge on how to best use those resources for development gains.  It demands a long-term commitment to see those investments through, from conception to completion.

The World Bank brings all of these elements—financing, knowledge, experience, and commitment—to each of its partnerships with countries that aspire to grow their economies and provide greater opportunities for their people.  As an institution with 189 member countries, we have an unmatched global reach that gives us the ability to work across countries and continents.  We use our convening power to amplify the voices of developing countries by bringing together international, national, and local leaders with stakeholders to share knowledge, leverage relationships, and partner for solutions.  We provide a wide array of financial products, technical assistance, and support for countries to apply global knowledge to the challenges they face.  By working with countries to implement development projects over the long term, we help to ensure that growth is not only attainable but sustainable as well.

Three priorities guide our work with countries:  accelerating sustainable and inclusive economic growth; investing in people to build human capital; and fostering resilience to global shocks and threats.  Working across interconnected sectors, with an increasing array of diverse partners, we aim to improve the economic prospects of countries and people around the world.” (Extract from the 2017 World Bank Annual Report)

Given this context, describe in fewer than 1,000 words, how would you contribute to the meet the WBG goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity?

Please, APPLY HERE.

For more information, visit World Bank YPP.