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World Bank Job Vacancy in Ethiopia 2026 - WBG Pioneer SPARC Intern

World Bank Group Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Role description

World Bank Group – WBG Pioneer SPARC Intern (Conflict‑Affected & Reconstruction Contexts) Job Vacancy in Ethiopia 2026
Organization: World Bank Group (WBG)
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (also available in Nairobi, Kenya; Juba, South Sudan; Washington, D.C.; or fully remote)
Position Title: WBG Pioneer – SPARC for Conflict‑Affected and Reconstruction Contexts Intern
Job Number: req37665 | Grade: T4 (No‑Fee Internship Track)
Application Deadline: August 12, 2026 (11:59 PM UTC)
Required Language: English
Preferred Languages: Arabic, Ukrainian, French, Amharic, Swahili
About the Program
The WBG Pioneers Internship Program offers undergraduate and postgraduate students a high‑impact learning experience at the center of global development. Interns gain hands‑on exposure to international development challenges, contribute innovative ideas, and collaborate with global experts working to end poverty on a livable planet.
About SPARC
The Smart Parcel Atlas for Resilient Cities (SPARC) is a geospatial intelligence initiative supporting urban planning, infrastructure prioritization, disaster risk management, land management, and reconstruction. SPARC integrates satellite imagery, GeoAI, global datasets, and administrative data to produce parcel‑level insights on buildings, land use, infrastructure access, hazard exposure, population dynamics, and urban growth.
This internship supports SPARC’s expansion into conflict‑affected and reconstruction contexts such as South Sudan, Sudan, and Ukraine.
Key Responsibilities
Review SPARC materials, reconstruction use cases, and best practices in remote monitoring, damage detection, displacement tracking, and recovery analytics Map conflict‑specific datasets including satellite imagery, building footprints, roads, land cover, nighttime lights, hazard layers, and population proxies Support definition of SPARC use cases for conflict and post‑conflict settings (reconstruction prioritization, service disruption screening, remote supervision) Contribute to analytical frameworks, prototype analytics, mock‑ups, and operational materials Prepare notes, briefs, slide inputs, and documentation on data quality, uncertainty, validation, ethics, and appropriate use in FCV (fragility, conflict, violence) contexts
Selection Criteria
Currently enrolled in, or in final year of, a postgraduate Master’s or PhD program 1–6 years of relevant professional experience Academic background in:
urban planning, geography, geospatial analytics, data science, remote sensing, disaster risk management, conflict studies, economics, public policy, or related fields Demonstrated interest in geospatial analytics for resilience, reconstruction, displacement, service delivery, or infrastructure planning Strong analytical, research, and problem‑solving skills Experience with GIS, remote sensing, spatial data management, Python/R, Google Earth Engine, QGIS/ArcGIS Excellent written and spoken English; additional languages (Arabic, Ukrainian, French, Amharic, Swahili) are an asset Ability to work effectively in diverse, team‑based environments
No‑Fee Internship Eligibility
Candidates must meet one of the following:
Enrolled in a Master’s/PhD program and the internship fulfills academic requirements (official university letter required), or Receive a university stipend equivalent to minimum STT T1 fee level (official letter required)
WBG Culture Attributes
Sense of urgency Thoughtful risk‑taking Empowerment & accountability
The World Bank Group encourages applications from nationals of member countries, especially Sub‑Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates .