Junior Professional Associates (JPA) Program (Rolling Intake)

About The World Bank Philippines

The World Bank Group's mission is to eradicate poverty globally. They do this by providing an array of financial products and technical assistance to countries facing development challenges. The World Bank Philippines started in 1945 as a post WWII development partner and is still supporting local projects more than 75 years later.

Your role

The Junior Professional Associate (JPA) program is a unique opportunity to gain entry-level professional experience and first-hand exposure to the challenges – and rewards – of international development.

JPAs may be hired across all functional areas of the World Bank, at Headquarters and in Country Offices, based on business needs.

In your JPA assignment, you'll use your strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, your knowledge of technology and your research abilities - working with more senior colleagues and project teams in their work both in operations and in corporate functions.

You'll have an opportunity to hone your skills and acquire new ones while gaining first-hand exposure to the challenges of reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

You'll gain entry-level professional experience in a premier development institution, on a two-year, non-renewable Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract with benefits. ​

Training, development & rotations

JPAs are encouraged to take full advantage of the learning and development opportunities offered by the World Bank. JPAs may enroll in classes through the World Bank’s learning portal, Open Learning Campus, attend BBLs, speakers’ forum and other development opportunities.

Salary & benefits

All JPAs are ungraded and paid the same fee, which is set at the minimum of the GD grade of the salary scale for HQ or the respective Country Office.

As of 1/7/2022, the JPA salary in the Philippines is PHP 811,000 per annum (source).

The salary for a JPA is fixed for the duration of the contract period. When the minimum of GD grade of the HQ or Country Office salary scale is adjusted, which is usually on July 1, the fee for a JPA is automatically adjusted to the new minimum of GD grade.

As a World Bank employee, you'll also receives the following benefits:

• Medical Insurance Plan
• Life Insurance Plan
• Overtime
• Flexwork
• ...read all benefits

Career progression

Your experience as a JPA may be used as a steppingstone to a career in government, consulting, the private sector, academia or other development agencies.

A JPA assignment is unfortunately not an entry point for a career at the World Bank and employment beyond the two-year contract will be prohibited for a period of two years after the end of the contract. However, some former JPAs may rejoin the organization later in their careers after gaining experience elsewhere and becoming experts in their professional fields. ​

The only exception to the two-year cooling off period is if a JPA is accepted into the WBG Young Professionals Program.

Work life balance

The Junior Professional Associate program is highly competitive and attracts high-caliber candidates. This often mean new hires feel real or perceived pressure to overperform so they can keep up with peers.

Based on Indeed surveys, The World Bank scores 4.1 stars, which is about average for the international development sector.

Culture & vibe

The World Bank describes themselves as a values based organisation, where adherence to their core values of impact, integrity, respect, teamwork, and innovation help them focus on how they achieve our mission.

About you

To be eligible for the JPA program, you must: ​

• Be 28 years of age or younger on your first day of service​
• Hold the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree
• Be fluent in English​

To be an attractive candidate, you should:

• Have superior academic achievements and place you in the top portion of your graduating class
• Love technology and integrate it in your work
• Have analytical and research skills within a particular specialisation (e.g. economics, finance, human development (public health, education, nutrition, population), social sciences (anthropology, sociology), agriculture, environment (climate, blue economy), infrastructure, private sector development etc.)
• Speak at least one other Bank language (French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, or Chinese).

How to apply

To apply for this role, simply click the "Apply on employer site" button on this page to submit your application directly with The World Bank.

Make sure to complete all the required fields and give throughtful and considered answers.

Some important notes:

• Recruitment and hiring for this role is ongoing throughout the year.
• Applications will be kept active in our database for a period of six months.
• Should you still be interested in JPA program after six months, you will need to re-apply.
• The World Bank will contact only those applicants whom hiring managers wish to interview.