Junior Professional Associate at World Bank Group

Junior Professional Associates – Program Description 

• The Junior Professionals Associate Program (JPA) offers an exceptional opportunity for recent graduates to embark on a professional journey, providing a three-year contract with valuable work experience within a diverse and dynamic environment and the potential of field work experience. The program is an excellent platform to sharpen your existing skills and to develop new ones, all while gaining a profound understanding of the challenges associated with reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity on a livable planet. 
• We will provide you with the opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. For more information, please visit

The following are minimum requirements to be eligible for the JPA program: 

• Be 32 years of age or younger 
• Hold a bachelor’s degree 
• Be fluent in English 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• The JPA will contribute as a team member to the Governance Global Practice’s tasks and activities primarily in South Africa and will work in coordination with other EAEG2 team members based in Washington DC and in other country offices, as well as with colleagues from other Global Practices.  

Specific duties and responsibilities will be as follows: 

• Research and Analysis: Research public sector management reform issues, including in areas such as public financial management, anticorruption, performance management. Analyze data and information to identify governance trends, challenges, and opportunities to support government reform efforts. 
• Support Project Implementation: Support the implementation of Governance operations, including organizing workshops, meetings, and training sessions. Prepare project reports, presentations, and documentation. 
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Participate in monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of Governance operations. Collect and analyze data to assess their outcomes and effectiveness. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with government officials, civil society organizations, and community members. Assist in maintaining effective communication and relationships with government partners. 
• Policy Support: Support the development and review of governance policies and strategies. Contribute to the drafting of policy papers, briefs, and memos. 
• Capacity Building: Contribute to capacity-building activities related to governance, such as developing training materials and delivering training sessions for stakeholders. 
• Administrative Support: Provide support for the delivery of Governance operations, including organizing meeting schedules, arranging logistics, and maintaining project files and records. 
• Knowledge Management: Assist in documenting and sharing lessons learned, best practices, and innovations in governance. Contribute to knowledge management activities within the World Bank. 
• Field Work and Data Collection: Participate in field visits and data collection exercises pertaining to Governance operations. Help ensure data quality and adherence to ethical standards. 

Other tasks/activities as assigned.  

Selection Criteria

In addition to the minimum requirements for being eligible to participate in the JPA program specified above, position specific criteria are as follows: 

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Economics, International Development, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, or related discipline. 
• Knowledge and Interest in Governance: Demonstrable understanding of governance concepts, public administration, institutional reform, and public financial management.  
• Work Experience: Work experience on public sector institutional reform issues in South Africa would be an advantage.  
• Research Skills: Strong research capabilities, with the capacity to articulate problems succinctly, identify the root causes, and find creative solutions to development challenges.  
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex issues, data, and policies related to governance and public finance. Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analysis, and interpretation would be an advantage. 
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal English communication skills. Ability to prepare clear and concise reports, presentations, and policy briefs.  
• Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Capacity to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams. Ability to collaborate with colleagues, clients, and partners from diverse backgrounds. 
• Problem-Solving Orientation: Ability to identify challenges, propose solutions, and contribute to innovative governance and public finance approaches. 
• Project Management and Organizational Skills: Basic understanding of project management principles and ability to assist in project planning, implementation, and monitoring. Organizational skills to manage tasks effectively and meet tight deadlines with professionalism. 
• Diversity and Inclusion 
• The World Bank continually searches for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Individuals with different abilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions and support in receiving other workplace accommodations.