Internship Programs

WHO Internships

Unpaid Internships

The goal of the WHO Internship program 2021-2022 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. The organization’s diversified environment enables cultural and experience exchange with professionals of various nationalities and different educational and professional backgrounds. Therefore, an internship in this organization 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.

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 internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.

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WHO Overview

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, private sector and civil society; monitoring and evaluating health issues; providing technical support; establishing, promoting and monitoring health norms and standards; shaping the health research agenda and stimulating the production and dissemination of knowledge.

WHO’s main focus: To foster policies to improve global health.

Themes addressed by WHO:

Health systems
Promoting health through the life-course
Noncommunicable diseases (cancer, heart disease, etc.)
Communicable diseases
Health emergencies

Description of the WHO internship

What are the fields of study required for the WHO Internship?

Medical Sciences
Public Health
Public Policy
Management
Social Sciences
Economics
Information System
Statistics

What are the tasks performed by the selected for the WHO Internship?

The activities performed vary according to the opening and the requirements of the different departments to which interns are allocated. However, generally speaking, the main duties are:

Research topics that are relevant to the agency’s activities;
Write and review articles, documents and publications;
Provide operational and administrative support;
Help organize events and conferences;
Take part in training programs alongside other staff members.

What is the duration of the WHO Internship?
The internship period ranges from at least 6 weeks to 6 months at most.
Weekly workload:
The internship programs are full-time. Interns shall therefore work between 35 and 40 hours per week.

What is the weekly workload of the WHO Internship?
The internship programs are full-time. Interns shall therefore work between 35 and 40 hours per week.

Where are the locations of the WHO Internship?
There are openings for WHO Headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland), but there may also be opportunities in its various Regional and Out-Posted Offices around the world.

Regional and Europe Offices: WHO African Region, WHO Region of the Americas, WHO South-East Asia Region, WHO European Region, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO Western Pacific Region.

Out-Posted Offices: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Kobe (Japan), Lyon (France) and New York (USA).

When does the WHO internship start?
The initial date of the internship shall be coordinated between the intern and the organization.

Is there any feedback following the completion of the WHO Internship?
At the end of the internship, the supervisor is in charge of preparing an assessment report of the intern’s performance.

Subsequent employment:
Participation in the internship is not related to future employment with the agency. However, the WHO Internship experience will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by other organizations inside or outside the UN System.

WHO Internship Salary

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.

WHO Internship Requirements

What is the education requirement of the WHO Internship Program?

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
Be enrolled in the last school year of an undergraduate school program (Bachelor’s level or equivalent), or;
Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate course in the last 6 months.

What is the language requirement of the WHO Internship Program?
Applicants must have working knowledge in English (reading, speaking and writing). Knowledge of another official language of a specific WHO office may be advantageous in the selection process.

What is the age requirement of the WHO Internship Program?
Applicants must be at least 20 and at most 62 years old at the time of application.

What is the Nationality requirement of the WHO Internship Program?
Applicants must be citizens of a WHO member state.

What are the competencies required for the WHO Internship Program?
The main competencies required are:

Communication;
Teamwork;
Showing willingness to learn from mistakes;
Producing and delivering quality results;
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural difference;
Be familiar with commonly used computer programmes, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
Knowledge of specialized computer programmes in statistical software may be an advantage and be knowledgeable in the use of basic computer programmes.

Other requirements of the WHO Internship Program:
Most WHO internships require no work experience. However, previous experiences may be an advantage in the selection process.

What are the Restrictions of the WHO Internship Program?
• An applicant may not be a child or sibling of any organization staff member.
• Applicants may not have previously done a WHO internship program.

WHO Internship - Application process

When to apply for the WHO Internship Program?
Internship applications vary according to the different WHO offices. However, for internships at the Geneva headquarters there are two enrollment periods:

Summer: applications are accepted from 1 February to 28 February each year.
Winter: applications are accepted from 1 September to 30 September. Winter internships usually take place between November and April.

How to apply for the WHO Internship Program?
The application process is done via the WHO E-recruitment System, where all openings are published, and comprises the following steps:

Register with the system;
Fill out profile data (academic and professional background);
Search for opening in field of interest;
Fill out the application;
Submit the application.

What are the phases of the selection process for the WHO Internship?
The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:

Creating a profile and preparing an application;
Submitting the application;
Evaluation of the application;
Competency-based interview;
Selection notifications.

How is the WHO Internship interview?
Usually, only selected applicants will be contacted for the interview, which lasts about 30 minutes and may be done via phone. The main points covered in the interview vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences.

What are the documents to submit for the WHO Internship Program?
i) When applying:

CV/résumé;
Motivation letter explaining your reasons for doing the WHO internship and your future prospects.

ii) After selection:

Proof of enrollment in a higher education institution;
Transcript of ongoing or concluded course;
Supporting letter from a professor.

What is the evaluation criteria of the WHO Internship Program?
You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.

Other information about the WHO Internship Program:
WHO seeks to foster diversity and reduce gender inequality in its workforce. Therefore, internship applications from skilled women and individuals from developing countries are recommended.

WHO Internship - Costs

The organization offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship. However, you may request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.

Visa:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship).

Insurance:
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.

Accommodation:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.

Other:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.