African Development Bank Young Professionals Program For Africans 2024

Do you have passion and commitment to the development of Africa? Outstanding academic and professional achievements? Then the Young Professionals Program for Africans calls on you to apply; hurry now and ensure that applications are submitted before the stated deadline. This African Development Bank YPP 2024 deadline is 13th November.

In a Nutshell, the Young Professionals Program for Africans (YPP) is a three-year leadership opportunity to develop the Bank’s future leaders. We attract highly qualified and motivated professionals from our member countries for a productive and rewarding career path in development.

Therefore, In this post, I have put down relevant Information about this African Development Bank Young Professionals Program that can help you apply. Below, I summarize what to expect.

What is the African Development Bank Group?

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group was established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries that are the institution’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs). Also, It is known as a regional multilateral development finance institution.

However, the Bank was established on 14th August 1963 in Khartoum, Sudan based on the signed agreement by member states. Note the group is made up of three bodies; the African Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Fund (ADF), and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF).

Moreso, As the premier development finance institution on the continent, the AfDB’s mission is to help reduce poverty, improve living conditions for Africans and mobilize resources for the continent’s economic and social development. The AfDB headquarters is officially in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Why Young Professionals Program for Africans?

The Bank Young Professionals Program (YPP) is a program that aims at reaching out to high-potential, best-in-class young professionals with a strong passion for Africa’s development.

However, This provides exceptional career opportunities to talented young professionals with leadership potential and an established record of outstanding academics. And also for professional achievement to make a difference in the development of the African continent. Note YPP is not an internship arrangement.

Furthermore, the YPP includes a rigorous program of activities, including a learning Academy that prepares participants to be technical and professional leaders with notable impact.

• The Program is for three years; the first two years will be spent on mandatory rotational placements across the Bank’s various functions. The third-year rotation year will be spent in the Home Complex, where the YP will graduate into a staff position.
• Only YPs who have completed the YP Academy and exhibited high performance and potential will be integrated into the Bank’s workforce.
• The Professional and Personal Development Program is structured under the Young Professionals Learning Academy with specific learning interventions delivered in phases of 6 months each. These learning interventions deepen technical knowledge and build the leadership skills required to effectively provide task functions and future roles in the Bank. The Learning academy also includes on-job training that involves an immersion into various functional areas of the Bank for hands-on experience in projects and diverse work assignments.
• Onboarding and orientation programs ensure faster integration into the Bank’s culture and offer a robust support mechanism from mentors, coaches, and buddy groups.
• Individual performance and potential will be reviewed periodically, and the necessary personal development plans will be customized to individual needs.

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What Do I stand to Gain from the Young Professionals Program?

African Development Bank Young Professionals Program offers many opportunities to help you in your career. Some of them include:

• A platform to build an exceptional and fulfilling career in the Bank. This development program spans 36 months and is structured under the Young Professionals Learning Academy. It is delivered in batches of 6 months each to deepen knowledge and build technical and leadership skills necessary for future roles.
• The learning will immerse you into different functional areas of the Bank, where you will have hands-on experience in projects and various work assignments.
• Partnerships with experts from recognized institutions support us in delivering training such as leadership development.
• The Majority of your learning and development is experiential as you continue to be supported by coaches, mentors, and colleagues.

For this African Development Bank YPP, the specific disciplines and specialist professional areas that are aligned to our Ten-Year Strategy (TYS) and our gender strategy are the following five high priorities (Hi-5s) of the Bank’s operations:

• Light Up and Power Africa: Power systems development (grid base power system, power utilities), Climate change and green growth (climate finance, climate adaptation), Energy statistics, policy, and regulation (energy statistics), Renewable energy (off-grid energy access), Energy partnerships (energy partnerships and stakeholders engagement, energy markets).
• Feed Africa: Agriculture & agro-industry (agribusiness development, agriculture research, production, and sustainability), Agricultural finance & rural development (agricultural and rural finance, rural infrastructure development).
• Industrialize Africa: Private sector development (strategy and new product, portfolio asset management, special operations), Financial sector development (financial institutions, financial inclusion), Infrastructure, cities & urban development (transport and logistics, ICT), Industrial and trade development.
• Integrate Africa: Development research (macroeconomic policy, debt sustainability, and forecasting, microeconomic, institutional, and development impact), Governance and public financial management (program development, policy management), Statistics (economic and social statistics, statistical capacity building).
• Improve the lives of the people of Africa: Water, human and social development (education, human capital, employment, sanitation, and public health.

Eligibility for African Development Bank YPP 2023

To join this Young Professionals Program, the applicants should:

• Be a citizen of a regional or non-regional AfDB member country.
• Be 32 years of age or younger by 31st December.
• Possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in any discipline that applies to the business of the Bank, with outstanding academic credentials.
• Have at least three years of work experience in the areas related to our high-priority sites (Hi-5s).
• Demonstrable on-the-ground/hands-on experience on the African continent and in other continent-developing countries
• Have a passion for Africa’s Development.
• Demonstrate strengths in leadership, including leading others.
• Able to leverage knowledge, share, and coach others
• Effectively work in teams with adaptability to a diverse environment.
• Strong analytical skills, and an entrepreneurial drive, result in orientation and problem-solving capability.
• Business Acumen and innovation mindset.
• Be proficient in the Bank’s working languages, English and French.
• Have skills that enable you to work in a digital environment and embrace technology as it evolves
• Be willing to live in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, the Bank’s Headquarters, and travel to undertake country assignments.

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Testimonials from the current African Development Bank YPP

“There is no better time to be part of what I call a ‘movement’ in Africa – new economic opportunities, improved governance systems, and a new wave of burgeoning entrepreneurship. Joining the YP Program of the African Development Bank has offered me a great opportunity to be part of this movement. The Program creates an environment for you to learn and contribute to the development business, including lending and non-lending operations. The wealth of expertise and experience within the Bank in providing technical assistance to regional member countries is just amazing. Working for AfDB, Africa’s premier financial institution, brings you to the forefront of discourses on countries’ policy and economical choices to achieve sustainable development outcomes. What I cherish most about my experience in the Program is the exposure to the world of system-thinking in proffering lasting solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges in our countries and continent.”

Olufunso S

YPP 2011 (Senior Policy Analyst –RDGE)

Suppose you look forward to a stirring development career, particularly in Africa. In that case, the YP Program with the AfDB is undoubtedly a profound choice, as it affords a wealth of benefits and invaluable opportunities in a professional and stimulating learning environment. Once you get onboard, you can capitalize on the flexibility of expanding and complementing your skill set by working and learning from different aspects of the Bank where diverse and seasoned experts also contribute to exciting development initiatives. The Bank’s focused and passionate commitment to the continent’s development exposes you to the realities of dealing with contemporary socio-economic challenges. There are also opportunities for on-the-job training to improve your understanding of the Bank’s operations and procedures and other career development training. As a YP, using my skills and experiences and developing them further to contribute to efforts at reducing inequalities and poverty to promote inclusive growth in Africa is undoubtedly a great fulfillment in my career.

Rosemond O.

YPP 2010 (Poverty Economist –AHHD2)

If you are a Nigerian student, NITDA Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme for Nigerian ICT Students is now available.

Bank Young Professionals Program Application Procedures

Please note that the application for admission to the AfDB YPP is online. The YPP is a highly competitive program, and you are advised to provide as much relevant information as possible.

Applicants with dual nationality are advised that the Bank recognizes only one race from a member country; kindly indicate the nationality you wish to declare.

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Successful candidates from the selection process will be appointed YPs under their declared nationalities for the duration of the Program and any continuing contract with the Bank.

The application checklist is meant to facilitate your application experience.

• Provide an email address; and an alternative one. Fill in the correct email address since this will be the primary means of communication.
• Answer all the questions.
• Provide the most current contact information. Ensure you email us with updated data should your contacts change during the recruitment process.
• Complete phone number (country code + city code + number)
• Upload the following required documents (mandatory):
• Full two-page Curriculum Vitae in Microsoft Word version.
• Copies of Academic Certificates/Transcripts.
• Ph.D. Dissertation/Master’s Thesis topic (summary), if applicable.
• You will be expected to write an essay of about 800 words.

African Development Bank YPP Support Mechanisms

• Coaching: During rotations, your coach will identify your development areas in your current role.
• Mentoring & Sponsoring: Mentors &Sponsors will be selected from Vice-Presidents and Directors depending on the different domains that the Mentees wish to evolve This Program will also help build women in leadership which is a priority for the Bank. Through mentoring and sponsoring, the Talent Councils will identify YPs who need to be fast-tracked for the succession plan for VPs and Director positions, and decide on the projects to be conducted. There is a need to define implementation guidelines: TORs, work plans, etc.
• A “Buddy-System”: You will be assigned a “Buddy” from the previous YP cohort, who will serve as a source of Information and support during your familiarization with the Bank and country of assignment.
• YPP Coordination Team: the YPP team is dedicated to the recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and rotation management of the YP cohorts to ensure their successful completion of the Program. 
• YP Liaison Team (YPLT): two representatives are selected from the YP cohort and serve as active links between all YP cohorts and the YPP Coordination team in the HR Department. The YPLT serves one year and also sits on the YPP Steering Committee.

Young Professionals Program 2024 Deadline

The 2024 Young Professionals Program For Africans application submission ended on 13th November (midnight GMT). Therefore, all applications must be submitted on or before the deadline because any application submitted after then will not be considered.

Visit the official website for more Information.

YPP Official Website

AFDB Young Professional Program FAQs

Sources

• Opportunities
• https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/careers/young-professionals-program-ypp/how-to-apply
• Schooling

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