What the role is
The YPP is the World Bank Group’s main entry route for early-career professionals. The next cohort starts in Washington, DC in September 2027 and spends two years on three eight-month rotations: one in the candidate’s primary function, one in another part of the Group (World Bank, IFC or MIGA) and at least one in a country office. Graduates of the programme move onto a five-year term appointment at GF level.
Who can apply
You need a master’s degree or higher, finished before September 2027, and two to six years of full-time professional experience; doctoral research that is substantially complete can count. Excellent English is mandatory and other languages strengthen an application. There is no age limit, so readers who ruled themselves out under older age caps should look again. The page states no nationality restriction. Current WBG staff are not eligible.
What you get
A structured two-year programme with exposure across the Group, then a five-year contract. Pay and benefits follow standard WBG scales and are not negotiated individually; the page confirms that dependent visas are available.
How to apply
Apply on the WBG careers portal (worldbankgroup.csod.com). Choose a primary stream plus up to two alternatives, upload a CV of at most two pages, your passport photo page and transcripts, and write two statements of 400 words each. Draft the statements offline first: the Group says late applications will not be considered.
Timing & verification note
Checked on the employer’s page on 2026-09-26. The deadline is 30 September 2026 at 23:59 UTC, which is 02:59 on 1 October in Riyadh, Amman and Cairo and 03:59 in Dubai. It closes in 4 days. The published timeline: longlisting 1–15 October, assessments 15–31 October, panel interviews in December or January, offers late January to early February 2027.
