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Do you think that only International Relations students and young professionals have a chance of getting an internship at the United Nations? Do you believe you are not supposed to have a rewarding international experience in your field? If you think this way, know that fortunately you are wrong! The UN Organizations with opportunities for Health professionals are many!
The United Nations system has a complex structure composed of many agencies, funds, and programs, each with departments and offices in every corner of the world. In these organizations, there are many opportunities for individuals with an academic background in health. We use the term “health” to encompass all “health-related” academic backgrounds and professional roles.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to four of the main UN Organizations that offer career opportunities for Health Professionals.
In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes.
These services include revising your UN application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model.
As you go through the chapters of the eBook, “UN Careers for Health Professionals”, you will discover what the competencies, requirements, and most common tasks performed by health professionals at the UN are.
Moreover, we will bring you updated information about the agencies offering the greatest number of internships and job opportunities, as well the most common countries and positions by grade level.
This article is just a small sample of all the information covered by our comprehensive eBook – UN Careers for Health Professionals. If you want to know more about our preparation products, access the following link:
UN Health Professionals: Products & Services
UN Agencies With Health-Related Opportunities
In the United Nations, there are different bodies with health-related missions that play important roles in the international system. These organizations are responsible for a number of roles such as Sexual and Reproductive Health, Children health, Public Health, and Health Services, Medical Practitioners, Pharmacy and Nutrition, etc.
Below, we will present an overview of the main UN bodies with health-related missions.
#1 World Health Organization – WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a UN agency dedicated to promoting improved health conditions among the world population. Its headquarters are in Geneva (Switzerland) and it has offices in over 150 countries, where 7,000 staff members are employed.
WHO seeks to achieve its goal in many different ways, especially: coordinating efforts among governments, the private sector, and civil society; monitoring and evaluating health issues, etc. All of this for, among others, shaping the health research agenda and stimulating the production and dissemination of knowledge.
The following topics are addressed by WHO:
- Health systems
- Promoting health through the life-course
- Noncommunicable diseases (cancer, heart disease, etc.)
- Communicable diseases
- Health emergencies
The goal of the WHO Internship program is to provide a practical understanding of the work carried out at WHO. Thus, it is suitable for applicants interested in international development, specifically those who seek professional experience in subjects related to the promotion of global health.
Hence, an internship at WHO will be a valuable asset to your curriculum and a great distinctive feature in future selection processes, since you will have the opportunity to know and experience the work dynamics, internal policies, and routine of the organization.
These are the field of studies required for the WHO Internship Program:
- Medical Sciences
- Public Health
- Public Policy
Want to Know more? Check our eBook: “UN Career for Health Professionals” to know all about the Health Related Opportunities in the WHO:
eBook: UN Careers for Health Professionals
| Tip For more information, access the following links: WHO Internship Program – Website Contact for inquiries WHO Internships – OpenIGO |
#2 UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
The United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was created in 1996 with the mission of fighting against AIDS around the world. For that purpose, it has provided treatment and assistance to HIV Carriers and sought ways to reduce the socio-economic impacts of the virus proliferation.
Headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland), the program manages to integrate a network of actors (government, companies, and civil society) so they act conjointly, searching for solutions to enable accessible and effective policies to all in the fight against HIV.
Themes addressed by UNAIDS include:
- AIDS and SDGs
- Human Rights
- HIV Prevention and Treatment
- Many others
The goal of the UNAIDS internship program is to provide candidates with an environment conducive to the practical application of the knowledge acquired in their academic training and to the development of a network.
Working at the agency can be a great experience for someone who seeks more knowledge about combating HIV, especially in the African continent.
Want to Know more? Check our eBook: “UN Career for Health Professionals” to know all about the Health Related Opportunities in the UNAIDS:
eBook: UN Careers for Health Professionals
| Tip For more information, access the following link: UNAIDS – eRecruitment Website UNAIDS Internships – OpenIGO |
#3 GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is an international organization and partner of the United Nations, that seeks to promote the vaccination of children in poor regions of the world.
Headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland), Gavi fights for vaccines to be cheaper, accessible and to reach more poor children, especially in low-income countries.
The agency also tries to give children access to new vaccines and other means of disease prevention. To achieve its purposes, Gavi works in partnership with other IGOs, States, the private sector, and the vaccine industry. By 2020, the agency provided vaccines for 300 million children.
Gavi Alliance addresses the following themes:
- Gender studies
- Health System strengthening
- HPV and Rubella
- Sustainability of immunisation programs
The goal of the Gavi Alliance Internship Program is to provide those interested in international development with a greater understanding of Gavi’s work, promoting practical experience in topics related to global health and childhood vaccination.
Want to Know more? Check our eBook: “UN Career for Health Professionals” to know all about the Health Related Opportunities in the GAVI:
eBook: UN Careers for Health Professionals
| Tip For more information, access the following links: Gavi Internship Program – Website Contact for inquiries Gavi Internships – OpenIGO |
#4 World Food Program (WFP)
The mission of the World Food Program (WFP) is to fight global hunger by ensuring that those in the most vulnerable condition, especially women and children, have access to quality nutrition.
The organization works primarily in countries and regions affected by conflicts or natural disasters, delivering emergency assistance to provide food for victims and strengthen community resilience.
Its headquarters are in Rome (Italy), but it operates in dozens of countries. Currently, WFP has more than 14,000 employees worldwide (90% of its staff work in countries served by the organization).
These are the themes addressed by the organization:
- Climate action
- Disaster risk reduction
- Gender equality
- Nutrition
- Smallholder market support
- Social protection and safety nets
- Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems
The goal of the internship program is to provide health students and nutritionists interested in international development with a better understanding of WFP’s work and mission.
Want to know more? Check our eBook: “UN Careers for Health Professionals” to know all about the work of the WFP.
Click here:
Want to Know more? Check our eBook: “UN Career for Health Professionals” to know all about the Health Related Opportunities in the WFP:
eBook: UN Careers for Health Professionals
| Tip For more information, access the following links: WFP – Internship Program Contact for inquiries WFP Internships – OpenIGO |
In the following table, you will find a summary of the aforementioned UN bodies with health-related missions that frequently offer internships for students with backgrounds in health studies (the list is not exhaustive).
| UN bodies with health-related opportunities |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) |
| The United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) |
| GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance |
| The World Food Program (WFP) |
By having access to this information and much more from our eBook, you will certainly have a head start over other candidates!
With that in mind, check out our eBook, “UN Careers for Health Professionals”, which will help you land your dream job at United Nations Organizations with health-related opportunities. The ebBook will introduce you to the complex world of the United Nations and it will guide you through all the stages of the selection process. Access:
eBook – UN Careers for Health Professionals
