Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
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.
Once you have looked at some examples of UN organizations with different missions, it is time to discover which organizations offer more internship 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 Internship Opportunities
UN Body |
% of Vacancies (2018-2021) |
Internship Areas |
UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund |
50,6% |
Ø Children’s Rights (Health and Protection) Ø Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases Ø Public Health and Health Service Ø Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Ø Nutrition |
UN WFP – World Food Program |
16,46% |
Ø Food Security, Livestock and Livelihoods Ø Nutrition Ø Humanitarian aid Ø Children’s Rights (Health and Protection) |
UNDP – United Nations Development Program |
9,14% |
Ø Public Health and Health Service Ø Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases Ø HIV and AIDS |
UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
5,48% |
Ø Refugee rights and well-being Ø Children’s rights (health and protection) Ø Public Health and Health Service Ø Sexual and reproductive health Ø Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Ø Emergency aid Ø Medical Practicioners |
FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
3,65% |
Ø Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases |
As seen above, in the period under consideration, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) offered the greatest number of Health internships: approximately 83 opportunities, representing around 50,6% of vacancies.
After choosing the ideal organizations at which to have your internship experience, it is recommended to focus on knowing the specifics of each one’s selection process to increase your chances of approval. This is exactly the purpose of our eBook, “UN Careers for Health Professionals”, which presents detailed information regarding the requirements, duration, remuneration, and documents demanded by different UN internship programs for health professionals and students.
By having access to this information and much more from our eBook, you will certainly have a head start over other candidates!
Land your dream job at United Nations Organizations with health-related opportunities. The eBook 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