WBG Young Professional

WBG Young Professional

Are you ready for a career with a lasting impact?

The World Bank Group’s Young Professionals Program (YPP) offers exceptional professionals from around the world the opportunity to apply their specialized technical expertise, broaden their experience, and contribute to solutions to some of the most pressing development challenges. Young Professionals (YPs) work across the World Bank, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID in support of our mission to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more than 60 years, this highly competitive program has selected outstanding professionals to contribute to the institution’s work and develop as future leaders in global development.

We seek candidates who demonstrate strong leadership potential, exceptional technical skills, and a clear commitment to our mission and values. As a YP, you will collaborate with colleagues across disciplines and institutions, applying your expertise to help address pressing development challenges and improve lives around the world.

YPs join the World Bank Group on an initial two-year term contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance. During this period, YPs complete three eight-month rotations: one with their primary function and area of expertise, one cross-institutional rotation, and at least one rotation based in a country office.  These assignments enable YPs deepen their technical and operational knowledge while gaining experience across different areas of the institution.

Through the YP Academy, YPs undertake a structured learning and development journey that includes technical and operational training, language programs, negotiation and business skills, and leadership development. They also receive individual coaching, connect with mentors, and participate in strategic dialogues with senior leaders.

Water security is a critical global development priority. Water scarcity, service-delivery gaps, climate vulnerability, and growing pressures on food security, health, jobs, resilience, and inclusion require integrated and scalable solutions. The World Bank Group supports clients through lending, analytics, advisory services, policy dialogue, partnerships, innovation, and investment across water supply and sanitation, water resources management, irrigation, groundwater, flood and drought resilience, institutional reform, sustainable financing, and private sector participation.

What You’ll Deliver

• Support the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of lending operations, trust-funded activities, and flagship programs across the water-security agenda. 
• Contribute to integrated solutions for Water for People, Water for Food, and Water for Planet, including water reuse, sustainable irrigation, water-secure cities, utility performance, groundwater management, and climate resilience. 
• Conduct research, data analysis, technical reviews, stakeholder mapping, economic and institutional assessments, and diagnostics to inform country engagements, policy dialogue, program design, and strategic decisions. 
• Support reforms and innovative approaches related to water governance, institutional strengthening, digital applications, sustainable financing, private sector participation, and private capital mobilization. 
• Participate in implementation-support missions and stakeholder consultations; review technical reports and terms of reference; and contribute to project documents, aide-memoires, implementation reports, action plans, and results monitoring. 
• Engage with governments, private sector actors, development partners, and World Bank Group teams to advance partnerships, align initiatives with operations, and identify opportunities to scale and replicate successful solutions. 
• Prepare concise analytical outputs, policy notes, concept notes, briefing materials, presentations, meeting records, knowledge products, and results reports for internal and external audiences. 
• Contribute to knowledge exchanges, learning events, cross-sector collaboration, and business development across sectors and World Bank Group institutions.

What You’ll Bring
• Minimum of a master’s degree in civil or environmental engineering, water resources management, environmental science or policy, economics, public policy, development studies, agriculture, climate studies, international development, or another relevant water-related field.
• 2-6 years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated technical experience in one or more water-security areas.
• Experience in irrigation modernization, utility management or regulation, water governance, innovative sector financing, public-private collaboration, or private sector participation in water is an advantage.
• Demonstrated interest in international development and the World Bank Group mission.
• Strong analytical, research, data, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate analysis into practical recommendations.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to prepare concise, high-quality outputs for diverse audiences.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in diverse, multidisciplinary, and decentralized teams and engage constructively with clients and partners.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in English; fluency in additional languages, is an advantage.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.