World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program
The World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program provides recent African Ph.D. graduates with six months of hands-on research and policy experience at World Bank offices.
Funder: World Bank Group
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2026 (Full application/closing date, projected)
Funding Amounts: Six-month paid fellowship; fellows receive consultant fees and round-trip economy airfare to World Bank offices.
Summary: Offers recent African Ph.D. graduates a six-month placement to gain hands-on experience in development policy and research at World Bank offices.
Key Information: Applicants must be under 32, recent or final-year Ph.D. candidates, and nationals of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Description
The World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program is designed to nurture the next generation of African leaders in development by offering a unique, immersive six-month assignment at World Bank Group (WBG) offices in Washington D.C. or country offices. The fellowship is aimed at young African nationals who are completing or have recently completed their Ph.D. in fields aligned with the World Bank’s mission, such as economics, social sciences, public policy, engineering, health, climate, or other development-related disciplines.
During the fellowship, participants engage directly in research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations, contributing to knowledge generation, policy design, and institution-building efforts. The program provides a robust introduction to international development work and helps build a strong pipeline of African talent for careers in international organizations, government, think tanks, and academia.
