Have you heard about the World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program? If you have not, we are going to tell you about this great opportunity.

The Africa region of the World Bank Group (WBG) has commenced the opening of the application period for the 2026 WBG Africa Fellowship Program for Ph.D. candidates and recent Ph.D. graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa nationals. 

This program encourages women to apply, especially. This fellowship has the objective of building the capacity of the next generation of change makers in Africa in the areas of policymaking and development research in order to promote the strategic funnel for alleviation of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Are you interested in this program?

Let’s discuss further… 

To be accepted into this program, you must be a Ph.D. candidate or recent graduate (within three years of completing your Ph.D program) from Sub-Saharan Africa. That means that your Ph.D. must be in Africa, and you are either a candidate or have recently graduated from your doctoral program in any university located in Sub-Saharan Africa.

If accepted into World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program, you will:

• spend six months at World Bank Group headquarters in Washington DC, United States of America or a country office to gather hands-on experience. You are required to be available in-person for the period of January-June 2026. 
• work on economic policy, research, technical assistance, and contributing to the World Bank Group’s main goal of eliminating poverty in Africa and the world, and also “increasing shared prosperity”.   

Details about World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program 2026 

The World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program is interested in talented young scholars in Africa who are either completing their Ph.D. or have completed their studies within three years in the academic fields of study related to World Bank objectives and duties.

The Africa Fellowship program is not recent or newly established. Since it was founded, it has demonstrated itself to be a strong network building and connecting young African talented scholars who are interested in development career goals in various international institutions, governments in Africa, think tanks and academia. 

This program provides an opportunity for the selected fellows to spend a six-month assignment in World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C or in country offices where they will learn the operational services and business of World Bank. Their role within this 6-month fellowship involves designing of global and country policies, generation and dissemination of knowledge and institutional building with the aim of achieving inclusive growth in developing countries. 

Read also

Eligibility Criteria to be Selected for World Bank Group Africa Fellowship Program 2026

To be qualified for consideration in this Africa Fellowship Program organised by the World Bank Group, you must meet up with the following eligibility criteria:

• You must be a recent Ph.D. graduate (within three years of completion) or enrolled in the last year of the Ph.D. program. So, if you are in your final year, apply.
• You must have an excellent command of English, both written and oral.
• You must possess strong quantitative and analytical skills suitable for research.
• You must be under the age of 32 by the closing of the application period, as this is for young Africans.

The Process of Selection

To select candidates for this fellowship, the following phases will be undergone:

Phase I: A short-list of selected candidates will be published and they will be hired into different units of the World Bank Group. This, however, depends on the field of studies of the applicants and the areas of specialization and research interest. If shortlisted, applicants will get notification on the status of their application. 

Phase II:

Through consultation with the various units of the World Bank Group, phase two encompasses the final list of the selected fellows. After the completion of this process, all the selected candidates who have been shortlisted will be notified of their status. When they accept their position, the World Bank Group will hire them as short-term consultants for six months beginning January 2026.

Benefits

• Fellows will be paid consultation fees for 6 months.
• Fellows will receive round-trip economy-class air to Washington, D.C or a World Bank Group country office.

How to Apply

Go to the official website  of the World Bank Group African Fellowship Program HERE and apply.

Application Launch and Deadline:

• Application Launch: July 1, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 25, 2025.