World Bank Africa Fellowship Program 2026 | Step-by-Step Process

The Africa region of the World Bank Group (WBG) has opened the application period for the 2026 World Bank Africa Fellowship Program.

Through the fully funded fellowship program, the World Bank aims to build the capacity of the next generation of African change makers in development research, policymaking and promote the goals of reducing poverty in the region.

In this post, you will find the details of the fellowship program including the method of application for interested and qualified applicants.

World Bank Africa Fellowship Summary

Host Country: United States of America
Study Abroad: Study in USA
Category: Training | Fellowships
Eligible Countries: Sub-Sahara Africa Countries
Reward: Full Sponsorship to Washington DC | Other attractive allowances
Deadline: August 25, 2025.

World Bank Africa Fellowship Details:

The World Bank Africa Fellowship 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.

The fellowship program has been very successful since its inception, building a strong pipeline of young African talent interested in a career in development, in international institutions, African governments, think tanks, and academia.

The program offers selected fellows a six-month assignment at WBG offices in Washington D.C. or in country offices to gain hands-on experience in WBG operations.

World Bank Africa Fellowship Requirements:

To be considered;

Be a recent Ph.D. graduate (within three years of completion) or be enrolled in the last year of the Ph.D. program.
Have an excellent command of English, both written and verbal.
Possess strong quantitative and analytical skills.
Be under the age of 32 by the closing of the application period.

Duration and Reward for World Bank Africa Fellowship 2026

Fellows are eligible to receive consultant fees and round-trip economy-class air travel to Washington, D.C. or a WBG country office.

If accepted, you will:

spend six months getting hands-on experience at the WBG headquarters in Washington, D.C. or a country office. The fellowship requires in-person availability for the period January-June 2025.
work on research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations that contribute to the WBG’s goals of eliminating poverty and increasing shared prosperity.

Note

The following additional attributes are highly desirable:

A command of an additional World Bank official language
National from fragile and conflict-affected countries
Candidates from refugee and internally displaced communities and/or with proven experience on forced displacement

The selection process consists of two phases:

In the first phase, a short-list of candidates will be made available for hire for the different units of the WBG depending on applicants’ specialization. Applicants will be notified of about the status of their application or whether they have been shortlisted or not.

In the second phase, 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.