WHO Internship Programme: For future leaders in public health

Overview

A competent and dynamic health workforce at the heart of each health system is essential to advance global health goals. Countries need a pool of health professionals trained and exposed to the systems and processes in the health sector and who understand how stakeholders interact within the international health arena.

WHO, as the leader in global public health issues, is committed to building a diverse pool of future leaders in public health. WHO’s Internship Programme offers a wide range of opportunities for students and recent graduates to gain insight into the technical and administrative programmes of WHO and enrich their knowledge and experience in various areas, thereby contributing to the advancement of public health.

Objectives

• Provide a framework for assigning eligible students from diverse academic backgrounds to WHO programmes where their educational experience can be enhanced through capacity building opportunities.
• Provide an opportunity for WHO programmes to benefit from engagement from students specializing in various fields related to technical and administrative programmes of WHO.
• WHO offers internships in technical areas and administrative programmes such as communication, external relations or human resources.

 Eligibility

Age: You are at least twenty years of age on the date of application.

Education: You are enrolled in a course of study at a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification (undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate), in a public health, medical or social field related to the technical work of WHO, or in a management, administrative, communications, or external relations-related field. Applicants who have already completed a qualification may also qualify for consideration, if they apply to the internship within six months following the completion of the formal qualification. You have completed three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution prior to starting (bachelor’s level or equivalent) the internship.

Languages: You are fluent at least in one of the working languages of the office of assignment.

Family relation: You are not related to a WHO staff member (e.g., son/daughter, brother/sister, or mother/father).

Nationality: You hold a valid passport of a WHO Member State.

Other: You have not previously participated in WHO’s Internship Programme.

Benefits

WHO provides all interns with medical and accident insurance coverage during the duration of the internship period. Insurance coverage before the start date of the internship and after the end date of the internship, including travel to and from the duty station location, is the sole personal and financial responsibility of the individual intern.  

As of January 2020, WHO provides living allowance to eligible selected interns who need financial support. All interns must complete a legal Declaration of Interests form. This form requires intern candidates to declare any relevant financial disclosures, including any financial support in the form of grants bursaries, scholarships, etc. Based on the information provided in this form, the  intern candidates’ eligibility to receive financial support from WHO will be assessed.  

Lunch vouchers may be provided at some duty stations.

How to apply?

We invite candidates from across the world to apply to the WHO Global Internship Programme.   

All applications must be made through the internship position vacancy notices posted on the WHO Careers site using the WHO online recruitment system (Stellis). There is no possibility to apply for an internship at WHO outside Stellis. More information on the recruitment process can be found in the FAQs section. 

Internship positions are available in various areas of work and in different organizational locations (regional offices, country offices or headquarters). As internship opportunities are posted on a continuous basis, with each containing different requirements and application deadlines, we encourage you to check the internship page regularly for new opportunities.