World Bank Scholarships Program, The World Bank, USA

The World Bank Group is a significant source of finance and information for developing countries worldwide. Its five institutions are united in their commitment to alleviating poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting long-term development.

Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program 

The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSMFP) of the World Bank matches prospective development economists from developing nations with research economists at the World Bank. It gives fellows a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage in intensive policy-relevant research at the Vice Presidency for Development Economics (DEC). Fellows will stay eight months (September to May each year) at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., focusing on high-quality, policy-relevant research projects under the supervision of specialists from the World Bank's Development Impact Evaluation (DIME) and Development Research Group divisions.

Working with World Bank DEC professionals and their external academic collaborators from leading universities, fellows will learn the latest research practices, gain new statistical skills, and network with prominent researchers. Fellows will have a unique opportunity to participate in rigorous policy-relevant research and widen their perspective on potential development concerns and how their study might solve barriers in developing nations.

Key Program Features

Professional experience: Fellows will operate on World Bank projects under the guidance of World Bank DEC experts, receive training in cutting-edge research methodologies and technology, and participate in World Bank operations. Depending on the nature of the programs, fellows may participate in DEC's published work, co-author with DEC experts, join field trips, or directly engage with World Bank clients.

Capacity building: At the beginning of the program, fellows will get a one-week technical onboarding, including training on reproducible research procedures. Working with DEC economists will help fellows enhance their ability to recognize, analyze, and write about crucial development policy challenges. Throughout the program, fellows will receive hands-on training and attend seminars taught by top economists to further strengthen their skills.

Research dissemination: Within DEC, fellows will be asked to produce a blog based on their fellowship research. This is an opportunity for them to highlight their research and contribute to policy conversations on development. Each year, the best four blogs will be featured on DEC's Let's Talk Development blog. The blog can be found following the link. (https://bit.ly/36q0Q5c) 

Compensation & Benefits

For an 8-month fellowship, the RSMFP offers a competitive salary, reaching $42,750 net of income taxes for each fellow (paid in monthly installments). The World Bank's HR Operations unit will support the qualified applicants with their G4 visa application because the fellows will be accommodated at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

Candidates should note that the fellowship does not cover travel expenses.

Budgeting

The RSMFP was founded in 1982 by a resolution of the Executive Directors to provide fellowships to young scholars pursuing studies in economic development-related subjects. The governments of Bangladesh, China, India, Peru, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the former Yugoslavia initially funded the program. 

Governance

A Steering Committee, Selection Committee, and Secretariat are part of the RSMFP governing structure. The Steering Committee, which is formed of officials from the donor nations' World Bank Executive Director offices, meets once a year to assess progress. The Selection Committee, which comprises World Bank DEC directors from the researching and impact evaluation departments, makes judgments based on the selection criteria and the development goals of the fellowships. The Secretariat supports the Selection Committee's work, which oversees day-to-day operations, sets policies and procedures, oversees onboarding, and handles development partner relationships.

Applicants are required to meet the following criteria to be considered for the RSMFP:

1. Citizens of member countries of the World Bank Group (WBG) (see below), with a preference for nationals of developing countries;

2. Outstanding English language knowledge 

3. The applicants who have completed a master's degree or are currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics or a similar subject;

4. Not over 35 years old (as of June 30 of the applying year);

5. Applicants must relocate to Washington, D.C, during the entire fellowship.

Member countries 

The governments of member countries own the World Bank Group's organizations, which have ultimate decision-making power inside the organization on all topics, including policy, financial, and membership concerns. The list of countries can be found by following the link. (https://bit.ly/3JmkPQC) 

Research programs

In the application, candidates will be able to specify whether they want to be hosted by the Development Research Department of the World Bank's Development Economics Vice Presidency or the Impact Evaluation Department (DEC).

Selection process

Applications for the fellowship are accepted annually between March and April for cohorts starting in September of the same year. A written application is required of all applicants.

• A statement of purpose stating their research interests, career goals, and qualifications as development researchers, as well as an updated CV

• Contact information of the reference who can write a recommendation letter (letters are only requested for shortlisted candidates)

• a piece of writing (not mandatory)

• An example of code (not mandatory)

Fellowships will be handled based on the materials submitted, understanding acceptable economic methods, and proficiency with the required statistical tools. Geographic and gender representation will be a goal of cohort development.

Joint Japan & World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 

Citizens of certain developing countries with relevant working experience and a track record of supporting their countries' future development who are applying to a graduate program in a development-related topic are eligible for JJ/WBGSP.

JJWBGSP grants scholarships for 26 Participating Programs at universities in the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan in essential areas of development, such as economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management, subject to available funds. 

Scholars from developing nations pledged to return to their home countries after receiving their degrees to put their new abilities to work and contribute to their countries' economic and social development.

Eligibility

Details on Eligibility Criteria are published in the Application Guidelines for each call for applications, and these precise eligibility criteria are carefully followed. There are no exceptions.

Broadly speaking, Developing Country nationals must:

• Be a developing country citizen on this list (see the link) that is a World Bank member; (https://bit.ly/3KPXreB)

• Holding dual citizenship in any civilized country is not permitted;

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle;

• Have a Bachelor's (or equivalent) degree that was acquired at least three years before the Application Deadline;

• After receiving a Bachelor's (or similar) degree, have three years or more of recent development-related employment experience;

• When they apply for the scholarship, applicants must have a paid full-time job with a development-related nature. They need to have worked for at least three years in paid development-related work since earning a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent university degree) in the past six years prior to the Application Deadline.

• Be admitted unconditionally (except for funding) to at least one of the JJ/WBGSP participating master's programs situated outside of the applicant's country of residence and country of citizenship listed at the time the call for scholarship opportunities opens on or before the Scholarship Application Deadline date for the upcoming academic year. Applicants must submit their admission letters before submitting their applications.

• Not be an Executive Director, their alternate, and/or staff of any World Bank Group appointment, or a close relative by blood or adoption of those above, with "close relative" defined as Parents, Siblings (including step-siblings), Children, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew.

Please notice that all qualifying requirements are rigorously followed. There are no exceptions. During an open call for applications, the eligibility conditions will not alter. Nevertheless, this information is subject to change between the closing of one application procedure and the opening of the next.

Application

To have a JJ/WBGSP application reviewed, applicants must fulfill the following two requirements: 

1. Meet Eligibility Criteria

2. Submit One Online Application

Application guidelines in more detail can be found through the link. (https://bit.ly/366PrXV)

Selection Process

The JJ/WBGSP reviews qualifying scholarship applications from developing country nationals using the following process to find the applicants with the most significant potential to promote their countries' development after completing their graduate studies.

Two qualified assessors analyze each eligible application independently and grade it on a scale of 1 to 10, taking into account four primary aspects and their degree of cohesion:

1. Professional Experience Quality (30 percent weight)

2. Professional Recommendations Quality (30 percent weight)

3. Applicant's Home-country Commitment Quality (30 percent weight)

4. Background of Education Quality (10 percent weight)

The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat selects the finalists based on the average score of the two assessors and the following criteria:

• Maintaining a geographically diverse distribution of awards.

• Maintaining a gender-balanced distribution of awards.

• When evaluating employment experience and other components of an application, unusual circumstances/difficulties.

• Scholarships are awarded to applicants who, all other factors being equal, have limited financial resources to pursue graduate studies overseas.

The finalists for the Participating Program scholarship are presented to the JJ/WBG Steering Committee (consisting of the World Bank Board of Directors members and WB management) for approval by the JJWBGSP Secretariat. The winners are contacted as soon as the JJWBG Steering Committee approves their nominations.

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship of the given program provides the following incentives to the recipient:

• At the beginning of the applicant's study program and shortly following the completion of the scholarship period, the applicant will fly in economy class from the applicant's home country and the host university. Scholars will receive a $500 travel allowance for each trip and two-way plane tickets.

• Tuition for the applicant's graduate degree and the cost of basic health insurance provided by the university.

• A monthly subsistence grant that covers all living expenses while on campus during the scholarship period (accommodations, food, etc., including books). The allowance amount varies according to the host country.

All JJ/WBGSP scholarships are for the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is shorter.

What is NOT covered by the scholarship? 

• VISA application(s) costs are not covered by the JJ/WBGSP grant.

• Expenses associated with bringing and/or supporting a scholar's family;

• Courses or training outside of the classroom;

• Courses that do not meet the graduate degree's minimum credit requirements;

• The graduate program does not provide language instruction;

• Expenditure on travel during the duration of the program of study;

• Expenses for research, supplemental instructional materials, field excursions, workshop/seminar participation, internships, or Educational equipment such as computers.

• Fee for a resident permit

For further information, please click the "LINK TO ORIGINAL" button below.