Does your ministry or agency sit on piles of data it rarely uses? The World Bank wants to help government teams turn that data into better decisions. Applications for its 2027 fellowship close on 16 November 2026.
The World Bank Group is taking applications for the Government Analytics Fellowship 2027. It is for managers and senior analysts in central government. It builds on the Government Analytics Handbook and has help from Oxford experts. You can join online or compete for a place on a six-month in-person track. Eligible people get travel support for the training in Washington, D.C.
There are three ways to take part. The online track is self-paced and suits officials with a heavy workload. The in-person track is for a small group chosen by competition. It lasts six months and needs your own drive and your employer’s backing. It includes about two weeks in Washington, D.C., in March 2027. Exact dates are still to come. There is also a regional hub track, with local fellowships built around regional hubs.
In Washington, fellows work with World Bank staff, academics and other practitioners. Each one gets a World Bank mentor. For applicants from ODA-eligible countries, the World Bank pays for hotel, travel and daily costs. ODA means official development assistance. The list covers many African countries, so check yours.
Who can apply? You must work in a central government organisation, including government agencies. You must hold a mid-level management or senior analyst post, or an equal one, with the authority to run a project. You need some university-level study in statistics or related methods, and good English. Your employer must nominate you. Each one can nominate up to two people.
The project is the heart of the application. It must matter to your agency and be doable. Think of a question your agency could answer with its own data. It could be about payroll, buying, services or staff surveys.
The application has three parts, all in English and in PDF format. First, a CV of up to three pages. Second, a 150-word summary of your project. Third, a letter from your employer that confirms your post and backs your place and project. For the in-person track, you must also finish an online course and send in your project before you travel.
Fellows gain hands-on training from the people behind the Handbook, project support from World Bank and Oxford experts and a global network of public officials. Selected fellows also receive dedicated mentoring. For questions, email governmentanalytics@worldbank.org.
Why it matters: African governments collect large amounts of data on workers, spending and services. Many lack the skills and time to use it well. A fellowship that pairs real projects with expert help can turn a spreadsheet into a better budget, a fairer hiring process or a faster service. Strong public data teams also make life easier for startups and investors who deal with government.
What to watch next: the 16 November deadline, the final March 2027 dates in Washington, and the projects that fellows choose.
Sources: World Bank Government Analytics Fellowship call for applications, shared via LinkedIn; World Bank, Government Analytics Fellowship; Opportunity Desk on the 2027 fellowship; Opportunities for Africans.
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