Internship – Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention – (2603774)

Grade

No grade

Contractual Arrangement

Intern

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days)

6 months

Closing Date 

Sep 28, 2026,

Primary Location 

Switzerland-Geneva

Organization 

HQ/HPR Health Promotion HEP

Schedule 

Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic (GTCR) is published every two years and for the last 18 years has successfully tracked the progress in tobacco control across all Member States. The next report, the eleventh in the series, will be published in 2027. The GTCR is one of WHO’s flagship publications and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of a technical expert in the respective area, the intern is assigned the agreed terms of reference:

proofread and cross-check drafts and revisions

conduct an independent data validation on all analyses reported in the report

undertake web research and data collection on specific subject areas

organize and validate data and documents

assist in organizing the launch of the report

participate in on-going departmental projects

Learning objectives

The purpose of the WHO Internship Programme is to provide an enriching learning experience for students and recent graduates. The Learning Objectives outlined within each internship vacancy are a key component of the programme.

Within this internship, the intern will

Understand the objectives of the programme/area of work

Communicate clearly about the programme/area of work

Understand the global status of tobacco control policies

Understand the role of monitoring policy progress in global health

Communicate clearly about the programme/area of work

Know how to assemble data and prepare a comprehensive analysis

Communicate clearly and effectively between stakeholders to ensure the production of a high-quality global report

Understand the difference of work between headquarters, regional offices and country offices

DURATION OF INTERNSHIP

1 February 2027- 16 July 2027

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Have completed the equivalent of three years of full-time studies in a health or data-science related subject at a university or equivalent institution prior to commencing the assignment; AND be enrolled in a course of study at a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification (applicants who have already graduated may also qualify for consideration provided that they apply to the internship within eighteen months after completion of their formal qualification).

Skills

Core competencies

Team work

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Communication

All interns should be able to demonstrate the following skills in line with the WHO core competencies:

Communicating effectively orally and in writing

Showing willingness to learn from mistakes

Producing and delivering quality results

Working collaboratively with team members

In addition, interns need to be familiar with commonly used computer programmes, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Knowledge of specialized computer programmes, for example, statistical software may be an advantage.

Experience

Experience in research and/or in drafting reports

Experience in the subject area through academic work or research

Experience with data analysis, statistical packages and interest in the design of graphical display and analysis of health information in an international comparative perspective, such as for health system performance assessment

More specific experience such as specialized computer programmes

Languages

Essential

Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable

Intermediate knowledge of other UN language.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Interns do not receive a salary. They do however receive a living allowance. The amount of living allowance is different in each duty station. The amount also depends on any other external financial support received by the intern (grant, scholarships, etc.) and whether their permanent residence is in the duty station of the internship. In Geneva, for interns with permanent residence in the duty station, the maximum amount of the allowance provided by WHO is 739 CHF per month. For interns whose permanent residence is outside of the duty station, the maximum amount is 1680 CHF per month. The exact amount of the living allowance will be calculated for each intern, after selection, based on a legal financial disclosure form that the individual will complete. In addition, all interns in Geneva will receive  daily lunch vouchers for meal expenses (20 CHF per working day). WHO also provides all interns with accident and medical insurance coverage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that internships at WHO are very competitive and only a small number of applicants will be accepted every year. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Living abroad is expensive and finding accommodation can be challenging. All intern candidates should be aware of these factors before they consider applying for a WHO Internship.

If selected for a WHO Internship, candidates will be required to provide certified copies of proof of enrolment in an eligible course of studies, a completed WHO medical certificate of fitness for work, and the contact details for reference checks.

WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected]

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Department of Staff Health and Wellbeing (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please contact SHW directly at [email protected].

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