Through the World Bank Group Africa Fellowship, Africa is one step closer towards building the capacity of the next generation of African changemakers in development research, policymaking and promote the goals of reducing poverty in the region.
World Bank Group (WBG) Africa opens its doors for a doctoral fellowship program geared towards 25 Sub-Saharan Africans.
It 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.
Furthermore, the fellowship program has built a strong pipeline of young African talent interested in a career in development, in international institutions, African governments, think tanks, and academia.
Application Deadline: August 23, 2021
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World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program Details
World Bank’s Doctoral Fellowship Program offers selected fellows a six-month assignment at WBG offices in Washington DC or in-country offices to gain hands-on experience in WBG operations.
In addition, fellows are eligible to receive consultant fees and round-trip economy class air travel to their fellowship destinations.
Among the skills and experiences that WBG fellows could gain include:
- Knowledge generation and dissemination
- Design of global and country policies
- Building of institutions to achieve inclusive growth in developing countries.
In addition, Sub-Saharan 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.
The fellowship duration is from January-June 2022.
The WBG Africa Fellowship Program can accommodate up to 15 fellows. However, the World Bank has collaborated with the private sector Think Africa Partnership this year. As a result, 10 additional fellowship positions have opened up, with a special focus on private sector development and finance.
The additional 10 fellows will work on improving the macroeconomic, business, and financial frameworks to enhance private sector investment, strengthen economic policymaking and ultimately promote economic growth across the region.
WBG Selection Process
The World Bank Group Africa’s selection process for selecting the top qualified Sub-Saharan doctoral Africans involves two phases:
Phase 1
A shortlist of candidates will be made available for hire for the different units of the WBG depending on the applicants’ specialization. Applicants will be notified about the status of their application or whether they have been shortlisted or not.
Phase 2
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 2022.
Eligibility Criteria for Sub-Saharan Africans
In order to qualify for an application, interested parties must first meet the following criteria:
- First, the Sub-Saharan African must be a recent PhD graduate (within three years of completion) or be enrolled in the last year of the PhD program.
- They should have an excellent command of English, both written and verbal.
- Also, the aspiring fellows must possess strong quantitative and analytical skills.
- Last, they should be under the age of 32 by the closing of the application period.
How to Apply
Please read the 2021 World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program overview first to learn more about this opportunity.
You may formally apply for the program via their online application form.
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