World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program 2025

The Africa region of the World Bank Group (WBG) is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for the 2026 WBG Africa Fellowship Program for Ph.D. candidates and recent Ph.D. graduates who are Sub-Saharan Africa nationals. Women are especially encouraged to apply. Through the fellowship, we aim to build the capacity of the next generation of African change makers in development research, policymaking and promote the goals of reducing poverty in the region.  

If accepted, you will:

• spend six months getting hands-on experience at WBG headquarters in Washington D.C. or a country office. The fellowship requires an in-person availability for the period January-June 2025.
• work on research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations that contribute to the WBG’s goal of eliminating poverty and increasing shared prosperity. 

The program targets young talented African nationals who are completing or have recently completed their Ph.D. in an area relevant to the World Bank’s work. The fellowship program has been very successful since its inception, building a strong pipeline of young African talent interested in a career in development, in international institutions, African governments, think tanks, and academia.

The program offers selected fellows a six-month assignment at WBG offices in Washington D.C. or in country offices to gain hands-on experience in WBG operations. This includes knowledge generation and dissemination, design of global and country policies, and the building of institutions to achieve inclusive growth in developing countries. While benefitting from research and innovation in multiple sectors, fellows will also work on research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations that contribute to the World Bank’s goal of eliminating poverty and increasing shared prosperity. 

• Table of Content
• About World Bank
• World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program
• Requirements for World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About World Bank

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: five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries. Together, IBRD and IDA form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries. IDA focuses on the world�s poorest countries, while IBRD assists middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries. While our five institutions have their own country m...... continue reading

World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program

Requirements for World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program Qualification

• Be a recent Ph.D. graduate (within three years of completion) or be enrolled in the last year of the Ph.D. program.
• Have an excellent command of English, both written and verbal. 
• Possess strong quantitative and analytical skills. 
• Be under the age of 32 by the closing of the application period.

Interview date, Process and Venue for World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program

Phase I: A short-list of candidates will be selected and made available for hire to the different units of the WBG depending on the applicants’ field of specialization and interest. Applicants will be notified about the status of their application or whether they have been shortlisted or not.

Phase II: The final list of fellows will be selected in consultation with the various units of the WBG. When the selection is complete, all shortlisted candidates will be informed of their selection status. Selected candidates will then be notified and, upon acceptance, be hired as short-term consultants for six months starting January 2026.

Fellows are eligible to receive consultant fees and round-trip economy-class air travel to Washington, D.C. or a WBG country office.   

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit World Bank Group Fellowship webpage