Minimum Requirements

Diversity, global mobility and international experience are elements in a young professional’s work routine. Therefore, it is strategic for the World Bank YPP to ensure international coverage in its selection process.

Individuals from non-WBG member countries can apply for the new WB YPP 2024-2025. However, candidates whose nationality is from a World Bank Group member country or countries of operations are preferred in the selection process. It is important to point out that there are no nationality quotas on the program. Selection is based on merit, meeting the minimum requirements and the WBG’s needs.

A criterion that defines a candidate’s eligibility for the Young Professionals Program is holding a Master’s or doctorate (PhD) degree in areas relevant to the Bank. In other words, holding a first-level university degree is not sufficient and s/he should have also obtained a Master’s (MSc) or MBA qualification, as a minimum, on application.

You can apply to the YPP if you meet the following minimum requirements and criteria:

For World Bank and MIGA placement:

• Holding a Master’s (MSc) qualification with a minimum of three years of: a) relevant professional experience related to development, or; b) continued academic study at doctorate level;
• Holding a doctorate (even if you do not have any professional experience).

Please note that for WB and MIGA placement, candidates must complete a relevant master’s degree by September 2024 or a PhD before September 2025. The Fields of study should be related to one of the World Bank or MIGA Business Areas.

For IFC placement:

• Holding a graduate degree or a MA/MBA (or equivalent) with a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in areas relevant to those organizations, including but not limited to Economics, Finance, International Relations, Science and Engineering.
• Please note that for IFC placement, candidates must complete a relevant graduate degree by September 2024.

Further relevant information on this requirement is:

• If you hold a Master’s with three years’ relevant work experience and are taking the first year of a doctorate program, you may apply for the WB or MIGA placement;
• The area of study for the Master’s and doctorate do not have to be the same;
• The Bank confirms that it does not have an a priori preference for candidates who hold a doctorate to the detriment of those who hold a Master’s and relevant work experience;
• The WB YPP considers face-to-face or distance qualifications from any university recognized by one’s national government to be valid. In addition, Master’s programs which do not require a final project (such as a dissertation or thesis) are also valid, as well as doctorates with no coursework.
• If the candidate is invited to start work and is still undertaking a doctorate program, the qualification must be completed while s/he works at the Bank.
• Having taken a Master’s program is not required to achieve a doctorate qualification in a number of countries;
• It is emphasized that information suggesting that only professionals with Ivy League academic qualifications are employed is erroneous. Professionals with qualifications awarded by a broad range of universities are selected by the WB YPP.

Do you want to make sure your academic qualifications section is a fit with the WBG’s strategies and policies?

Then check out our application review service:

REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS WITH US!

One of the minimum requirements for someone to apply to the World Bank Group YPP is professional experience. The candidate must have at least three years’ relevant professional experience linked to development or continued academic study at doctorate level for a WB or MIGA placement; or, in the case of the IFC placement, hold at least four years’ relevant professional experience. However, the average relevant professional experience for YPs is 6 years.

This requirement, specifically related to relevant professional experience, raises a number of queries, which we seek to clarify here:

• Relevant work experience includes any professional activity which is related to international development and public policies. In other words, work in the field of economics, public policies, analysis of public policies or in sectors, such as agriculture, climate change, education, energy, gender, finance, environmental resources, public health, poverty, water, transport, public-private partnerships, development of the private sector, social protection and the World Bank’s other areas of activity;
• In the case of applications for the IFC and MIGA, professional experience in areas such as finance, international law, political risk insurance and credit enhancement, project/program development, private equity, economic development and/or consulting might be expected;
• The following, among others, can be considered professional experience: internships, part-time work, temporary work, voluntary work, full-time work, consultancy, teaching and research;
• Experience at government organizations, in the private sector, at non-governmental organizations and other inter-governmental organizations is relevant;
• Work performed both in the field and the office is considered, as long as it is related to areas relevant to international development;
• The length of relevant professional experience should be counted considering intermittent experience. In other words, non-continuous professional experience can be added together. For example, imagine that you worked for 24 consecutive months (in an internship) in 2014 and 2015 but you only worked for the first six months of 2016 (as a volunteer at a NGO) and only the last six months of 2017 (as a government consultant). In this case, you have three years’ relevant professional experience and meet the minimum requirement;
• Your professional experience does not need to be in a developing country. However, professional experience in developing countries is an advantage.

Do you want to make sure your professional experience section is a fit with the WBG’s strategies and policies?

Then check out our application review service:

REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS WITH US!

The WBG’s work focuses on reducing extreme poverty in developing countries. Therefore, the YPs will frequently carry out field work in these regions. For this reason, professional experience in these regions, with topics related to international development, is considered a competitive differential on the WB YPP candidates’ curriculum vitae. This is not a mandatory requirement but a desired differential.

Work experience abroad is an excellent opportunity to learn new languages, develop intercultural skills and leave your comfort zone; it presents you with new challenges and is also a form of practical learning. The experience in developing countries sought by the WBG refers to real life activities in these locations, with issues related to the different international development topics covered by the World Bank. This may be part-time or full-time work, internships or volunteering with government, non-governmental organizations or companies.