World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program

Who can apply

A recent PhD graduate, within three years of completion, or currently enrolled in the final year of a PhD programme, in a field relevant to the World Bank's work
A Sub-Saharan Africa national
Excellent written and spoken English, with strong quantitative and analytical skills
Age 32 or younger by 1 January 2027
Selection runs in two phases: a shortlist reviewed by different WBG units by specialisation, then a final selection; only shortlisted applicants are notified
Women are explicitly encouraged to apply, per the World Bank's own announcement

A paid work placement, not a study grant

This is a paid work placement inside the World Bank Group, not a study grant. Selected fellows spend six months as WBG consultants at headquarters in Washington, D.C. or in a country office, working directly on research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations, which is a different kind of opportunity than a degree scholarship even though it targets the same PhD-level talent pool. If you’re looking for World Bank-linked funding that actually pays for a degree rather than a placement, the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program is the one to check instead.

Narrow, age-gated eligibility

Eligibility is narrow and age-gated: Sub-Saharan Africa nationals only, either within three years of finishing a PhD or in their final year of one, and 32 or younger by 1 January 2027. The World Bank’s own page does not publish a specific consultant fee or stipend figure, so budget for a real but unstated income rather than a published number. Women are explicitly encouraged to apply, per the World Bank’s own announcement language.

A two-phase selection process

Selection runs in two phases. A shortlist first goes to different WBG units based on the applicant’s specialisation, and only shortlisted candidates are contacted at that stage; a final list of fellows is then chosen in consultation with those same units, with accepted candidates hired as consultants starting January 2027.

A stated pipeline into development careers, with named alumni to show for it

The World Bank frames this as more than a one-off placement: its own page describes the programme as having been “very successful since its inception” at building a pipeline of young African talent into careers across international institutions, African governments, think tanks and academia. It backs that claim with named former fellows telling their own stories on the same page, including Marina Mavungu Ngoma on the fellowship’s role in developing Africa’s female leaders, Adam Abebe on bridging academia and practical development work, and Nwamaka Chidera Ogbonna on how her fellowship at the World Bank’s IFC reinforced the private sector’s role in solving global challenges.

The 2026/27 window has closed

The 25 August 2026 deadline for the 2027 cohort has already passed as of this check, and the World Bank has not published a date for a next round. If you’re reading this after that window, watch the official page directly for the next application launch rather than assuming a fixed annual pattern will repeat on the same dates.