The IMF Youth Fellowship Program is run by the International Monetary Fund and selects young leaders aged 20 to 35 from IMF member countries to take part in the annual capacity-building cohort built around the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings. The 2023 cohort was hosted in Marrakech, Morocco, where fellows joined sessions with economists, policy specialists, and civil-society figures. The fellowship is fully sponsored: the IMF covers round-trip travel, accommodation, and on-site costs for the meeting period, which typically runs about 5 days, so the cash value works out to roughly EUR 2,500 to EUR 4,000 (est.) per fellow depending on the host city. Applications can be submitted in 3 languages, Arabic, English, or French. Selection looks for experience in social activism, civil-society work, entrepreneurship, a start-up, or content creation, plus knowledge of inclusive economic growth, the digital economy, or climate change. Applicants must be citizens of an IMF member country (the Fund has 191 member countries), must not be affiliated with a government institution, and must not have been a fellow before. Because the host city, exact dates, and travel coverage are set for each annual cycle, confirm the current-cycle figures and 2026/2027 deadline on the official IMF page before you apply.
Applications are submitted online through the IMF Youth Fellowship portal during the annual call window, before the published deadline.
Good public speaking and presentation skills are assessed during selection. The application may be completed in Arabic, English, or French only.
All IMF member countries (191 nations)
A panel reviews each applicant's community impact, leadership experience, knowledge of economic and development issues, and public-speaking ability. Shortlisted candidates are assessed on the originality of their work and how clearly they connect it to inclusive growth, the digital economy, or climate action. Final fellows are chosen to reflect a balance of regions and backgrounds across the IMF membership.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organisation of 191 member countries, founded in 1944, that works to secure global monetary cooperation, financial stability, and sustainable economic growth, and runs youth and capacity-building programmes alongside its policy and lending work.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
It is run by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Washington-based institution with 191 member countries that works on global monetary cooperation and economic stability.
Fellows attend the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings; the 2023 cohort was hosted in Marrakech, Morocco. The host city changes each year, so confirm the current-cycle location on the official IMF page.
You must be between 20 and 35 years old as of the cycle's reference date, which was 15 October in the 2023 round.
Citizens of any IMF member country may apply. The IMF currently has 191 member countries.
Yes. The IMF sponsors selected fellows, covering round-trip travel, accommodation, meals, and on-site costs for the Annual Meetings, an estimated value of around EUR 2,500 to EUR 4,000 (est.) per fellow.
You should show experience in at least one of social activism or civil-society work, entrepreneurship or a start-up, or content creation on independent platforms.
You should have graduated from or be studying international relations, development, communications, economics, or a closely related field.
No. Applicants must have no current affiliation with a government institution at the time of application.
Applications are accepted in 3 languages only: Arabic, English, or French.
No. Previous fellows of the Youth Fellowship Program are not eligible to reapply.
The 2023 round closed on 30 June. The 2026 deadline is expected to fall around ~30 June 2026 (est.); confirm the exact date on the official IMF page.
A panel assesses community impact, leadership, knowledge of economic and development issues, and public-speaking ability, choosing a cohort that balances regions and backgrounds.