The World Bank Group (WBG) has opened applications for the 2027 World Bank Africa Fellowship Program for outstanding young African researchers and development professionals.
The World Bank Africa Fellowship is a fully funded opportunity that offers selected fellows a six-month placement at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., or one of its country offices, along with travel support, consultant fees, and other attractive allowances.
Fellowship Summary
- Host Country: United States of America
- Study Abroad: Study in USA
- Category: Training | Fellowships
- Eligible Countries: Sub-Saharan African Countries
- Reward: Full Sponsorship to Washington, D.C. | Consultant Fees | Round-trip Airfare | Other Attractive Allowances
- Deadline: August 25, 2026
Fellowship Details
The World Bank Africa Fellowship Program is designed to identify and support outstanding young African scholars who are completing or have recently completed a PhD in disciplines relevant to the World Bank’s mission.
Since its inception, the fellowship has helped build a strong network of African professionals pursuing careers in development research, policymaking, academia, international organizations, and government institutions.
Selected fellows will undertake a six-month assignment at the World Bank Group’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., or at one of its country offices, where they will gain practical experience by contributing to research, policy development, technical assistance, and lending operations that support poverty reduction and sustainable development across Africa.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the World Bank Africa Fellowship Program, applicants must:
- Be a national of a Sub-Saharan African country.
- Be a recent PhD graduate (within three years of completing the degree) or be in the final year of a PhD programme.
- Have an excellent command of written and spoken English.
- Possess strong quantitative and analytical skills.
- Be 32 years old or younger as of January 1, 2027.
Preferred Qualifications
The following qualifications are considered an added advantage:
- Proficiency in an additional World Bank official language.
- Nationality from a fragile or conflict-affected country.
- Background as a refugee or internally displaced person, or proven experience working on forced displacement issues.
Fellowship Benefits
Successful applicants will receive:
- Full sponsorship for the fellowship programme
- Consultant fees
- Round-trip economy-class airfare to Washington, D.C., or a World Bank country office
- Six months of hands-on professional experience
- Opportunity to work on:
- Development research
- Economic policy
- Technical assistance
- Lending operations
- Exposure to international development projects and global policy experts
Selection Process
The selection process consists of two stages:
- Stage One
- Applications are reviewed, and a shortlist of candidates is created based on their academic background and areas of specialization.
- Shortlisted applicants are matched with relevant World Bank Group departments.
- Stage Two
- Final fellows are selected in consultation with the respective World Bank units.
- All shortlisted candidates will be informed of their final application status.
How to Apply
To apply for the World Bank Africa Fellowship Program 2027:
- Visit the official World Bank Fellowship webpage.
- Access the online application portal.
- Complete the application form with all required information.
- Submit your application before the deadline.
To begin the fellowship application process, click HERE
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