Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program. Launched in 2013, the WBG-Africa Fellowship targets young, talented African nationals who are completing or have recently completed a 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. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
WBG Africa Fellowship Program offers chosen fellows a six-month assignment at World Bank Group (WBG) offices in Washington, D.C. (United States of America) or in-country offices to gain hands-on experience in the operations of the WBG. This includes knowledge generation and dissemination, design of global and country policies, and the building of institutions to achieve inclusive growth in developing countries.
Program Details
- Organizer: World Bank Group offices in Washington, D.C. (United States of America).
- Field of Work: Areas relevant to the World Bank’s work.
- Number of awards: Not specified.
- Duration: Minimum of six months.
- Target group: Open to Sub-Saharan Africa nationals.
World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program Benefits
Selected candidates for this program will be notified and, upon acceptance, will 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 from their university or institution. Furthermore, they will:
- Gain a better understanding of the World Bank Group’s mission and operations;
- Access quality data for their research work;
- Interact with seasoned experts in the field of development;
- Contribute to the World Bank Group’s mission.
Selected applicants will:
- spend six months getting hands-on experience at the WBG headquarters in Washington D.C. or a country office. The fellowship requires in-person availability for the period January-June 2026.
- work on research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations that contribute to the WBG’s goals of eliminating poverty and increasing shared prosperity.
World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program Eligibility
To apply for the WBG-Africa fellowship program, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:
- Be a recent PhD graduate (within three years of completion) or be enrolled in the last year of a PhD program.
- Have an excellent command of English, both written and verbal.
- Possess strong quantitative and analytical skills.
- Be 32 years old or younger by January 2026.
- Hold a passport from a Sub-Saharan Africa country.
How to Apply for the World Bank Group Africa Fellowship
Eligible candidates who would like to apply for this organisation program should click on the apply button and follow instructions to submit their applications before the deadline. The selection process consists of two phases:
Phase I: A short-list of candidates will be made available for hire to the different units of the WBG depending on the applicants’ specialization. Applicants will be notified about the status of their application and 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.
Applications deadline is . For more details on the World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program, please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.