WBG Young Professional

WBG Young Professional

The unit generates rigorous evidence and works with governments, operational teams, and development partners to use data, advanced analytics, experimentation, and research to improve public policy and development outcomes. The department builds systems that generate, organize, and apply evidence to decision-making, supporting adaptive problem-solving, institutional learning, and the World Bank Group's Knowledge Bank ambition.

The unit operates across the full knowledge cycle, from evidence generation and organization to operational delivery, replication, and scaling. Its work combines applied economic research, data science, artificial intelligence, and field implementation to help teams determine what works, for whom, under what conditions, and how promising solutions can be adapted and scaled cost-effectively.

What You’ll Deliver

• Design and implement applied research embedded in World Bank operations, using randomized and quasi-experimental methods to determine what works, for whom, and under what conditions. 
• Develop, test, deploy, and maintain data and AI applications tailored to development contexts, moving solutions from prototype to operational use by World Bank teams and government counterparts. 
• Support LEADS engagements, including portfolio design workshops, learning agendas, rapid experiments, A/B tests, and evidence-based adaptation of projects and programs. 
• Assess whether evidence-backed solutions are ready to scale, require further adaptation and testing, or are not suitable for replication in a specific context. 
• Build predictive and analytical models that inform targeting, implementation, replication, adaptation, and scaling decisions. 
• Work with administrative, survey, geospatial, satellite, text, audio, and other non-traditional data, including data generated under real-world operational constraints. 
• Contribute to DECDI's institutional platforms and global public goods, including LEADS, ImpactAI, and MEGA, to make evidence and analytics accessible within World Bank workflows. 
• Apply responsible AI and sound data governance practices, including privacy and data protection, bias and robustness testing, model evaluation, reproducibility, and clear documentation of limitations. 
• Produce decision-oriented outputs, including analytical products, academic papers, policy briefs, presentations, technical documentation, and training materials. 
• Collaborate with government counterparts, operational teams, researchers, engineers, and field staff, and help build client capacity through workshops and training programs. 

• A minimum of a master’s degree in economics, public policy, computer science, data science, statistics, machine learning, engineering, quantitative social science, or a closely related field. 
• 2-6 years of relevant professional experience in applied microeconomic research, impact evaluation, development policy, data science, machine learning, AI product development, or a closely related area. 
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas: causal inference and experimental methods; predictive modeling and machine learning; or data-intensive application development. 
• Proficiency in Python, R, Stata, and/or SQL, commensurate with the candidate's technical profile, together with familiarity with reproducible workflows and version control. 
• Experience working with complex real-world data, including administrative, field, survey, geospatial, satellite, text, or other non-traditional sources. Experience in developing-country, low-connectivity, or capacity-constrained settings is an advantage. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government counterparts, operational teams, and multidisciplinary technical colleagues, adapting advice to institutional and implementation realities. 
• Commitment to responsible data and AI practices, including privacy, fairness, transparency, and clear communication of methodological and model limitations. 
• Demonstrated interest in international development and the World Bank Group's mission. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical methods and findings to non-technical decision-makers. 
• Ability to work effectively in diverse, team-based environments, manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines, and travel regularly to client countries. 
• 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.