The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is a diversity focused talent development program, to create a leadership pipeline and workforce of the future for the Bank. This program offers exceptional career opportunities to talented young professionals with the ethos of future development specialists. It is a strategic talent development program designed to:

1. Develop a professional pipeline of workforce of the future for the Bank;
2. Nurture potential development specialists and  professional talent for the Bank; and
3. Contribute to the Bank’s diversity targets.

KEY FEATURES OF THE YP PROGRAM

The Program targets high-potential, best-in-class young professionals with a strong passion for Africa’s development and transformation. It offers exceptional career opportunities to talented young professionals with outstanding academic and professional achievements, to make a difference for the development and transformation of the African continent. The Bank aims to attract highly qualified and motivated professionals from its member countries for a productive and rewarding career. Through the Young Professionals Program, the Bank ensures continuity and excellence in the management of its work programs and the provision of policy advice and services to its Regional Member Countries.

To facilitate their journey, onboarding and career development in the Bank, a number of tools  have been put in place to support the YPs namely:

1. Rotation
2. Capacity Development
3. Mentorship and coaching programs
4. Graduation and integration into the bank

 Rotation

1. The YP rotates into three different complexes in the Bank.
2. The YP’s first complex is one aligned or relevant to the skills identified during the recruitment process. After the first complex, the YP will have to undertake two other rotations, one of which may be in a Country or Regional Office.
3. The first two years will be spent on mandatory rotational placements across the Bank’s various functions. The rotations will essentially seek to achieve the following sequenced objectives:

1. Rotation 1 – Demonstrate applied knowledge and experience (one year)
2. Rotation 2 – Stretch and learn (one year)
3. Rotation 3 – Transition (9 months, including 3 months) in a complex where one will graduate

Capacity Development

1. A Professional and Personal Development Program is structured under the Young Professionals Learning Faculty with specific learning interventions delivered in phases.
2. These learning interventions serve to deepen technical knowledge and build leadership skills required for effective delivery of assignments and future roles in the Bank. 
3. The faculty includes onboard training courses, customized postgraduate program with a reputable institution, the Bank’s Operations Academy, international certification programs etc.
4.  The YP Learning Faculty also includes on-the job training which requires immersion into various functional areas of the Bank for hands-on experience in projects and various work assignments.

Mentorship and Coaching Programs

The mentorship and coaching programs ensures a faster integration into the Bank’s culture and offer a robust support mechanism from mentors, coaches and buddy groups.

Graduation and integration into the Bank

Only Young Professionals who have successfully completed the YP Learning Faculty, three mandatory rotations, mentoring program, exhibited high performance and high potential, and no ethics related issues, will be integrated into the Bank’s workforce, automatically graduating at PL5 grade level.  

THE PROGRAM (YPP) STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS FOR 2025 INTAKE:

The Bank seeks to recruit Young Professionals in different disciplines and specializations which are aligned to the new Ten-Year Strategy (TYS), the Four Cardinal Points, and the People Strategy, as summarised below:

Ten-Year Strategy (TYS)

The  Five Priority areas are summarised as follows:

1. Light up and power Africa: Promote access to modern and affordable energy for all.
2. Feed Africa: Achieve food security for Africa, through the transformation of agriculture.
3. Industrialise Africa: Establish African manufacturing as an engine of job creation.
4. Integrate Africa: Promote regional integration and value chains, as foundations for a more productive and integrated African economy.
5. Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa: Focus on enhancing the living standards of Africans, particularly women and youths to enable them to achieve their potential

The Bank’s Four Cardinal Points

The Four Cardinal Points have been defined, to accelerate the Bank’s delivery for Africa, namely:

1. Unlock Africa’s Capital Power
2. Rebuild Africa’s Financial Sovereignty
3. Turn Demographics into a Dividend and
4. Build Resilient Infrastructure, Add Real Value