Internship - Digital Health and Innovation HQ/SCI/DHI/AI

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Digital Health Department sits within the Science Division. The overall mission of the Science Divisions is to harness the power of science and innovation in a systematic way, by ensuring the excellence, relevance and efficiency of WHO's core technical functions, including norms and standards and research. Within the Division, the specific purpose of the Digital Health Department is to harness the power of digital health and technologies to contribute to the attainment of the highest standard of health of all people.

The mandate of the department is structured around 3 functions:

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive and effective governance mechanism as well as a strategy, action plan, and architecture blueprint, using multi-stakeholder and a whole of system approach, to ensure safety and positive health outcomes in the delivery of digital health systems solutions and devices.
2. Engage with healthcare practitioners and professionals as well as producers of digital health devices and systems to establish reference implementations and test beds or platforms, maturity models, validate interoperability and help establishing a validation process to ensure digital health technologies help achieve positive health outcomes in short and long term.
3. Harness in a systematic way to lead and facilitate the exchange and implementation of ideas, views, expertise and resources of a variety of stakeholders in the digital health arena while mitigating risks and ensuring equity in the access to the benefits of innovations and products to achieve the Triple Billion Goal and SDG3.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

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

• review literature and conduct literature surveys
• undertake web research and data collection on specific subject area
• organize data and documents
• participate in the development of tools and guidelines
• assist in drafting, formatting and editing policy briefs, tool kits, guides/manuals, hand-outs, brochures and reports
• assist in organizing workshops, meetings, conferences, events
• participate in on-going departmental projects
• Support to organize informal technical consultations as part of the development of technical products
• Conduct rapid desk review and background research using preferred qualitative data analysis methods
• Undertake mapping out up-to-date landscape of governance in AI for health
• Assist produce and publish online learning materials to support the implementation of normative guidance
• Assist in drafting, formatting and editing documents and materials, including learning materials, policy briefs, tool kits, guides/manuals, hand-outs, brochures and reports
• Assist in organizing workshops, meetings, conferences and events
• Participate in on-going departmental and unit 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 difference of work between headquarters, regional offices and country offices
• Know how to conduct and review literature surveys
• Know how to assemble data and prepare a comprehensive analysis
• Prepare background documents for meetings
• Develop the outline of a document
• Acquire knowledge of best practices in global governance of digital health, with focus in artificial intelligence
• Understand norms and standard, emerging policy trends and frameworks in key areas under digital health and artificial intelligence for health
• Provide evidence-based analysis on the implementation status of guidance and policy produced by WHO in artificial intelligence
• Know how to assemble quantitative and qualitative data and prepare a comprehensive analysis
• Understand the online learning production flow and key elements
• Understand the essential process and requirement of a technical consultation
• Communicate clearly about WHO’s work in digital health and artificial intelligence
• Understand the difference of work between WHO headquarters, regional offices and country offices

DURATION OF INTERNSHIP

24 weeks - tentative start date 6 May 2024

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Have completed the equivalent of three years of full-time studies in AI, Digital Governance, Public Policy, Computer Science 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 six 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, , illustrator or indesign may be an advantage.

Experience

• Experience in research and/or in drafting reports
• Experience in international or global health policy, public health, development, computer science, information management, or a related field through academic work or research
• Field and/or developing country experience
• 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

LANGUAGES

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of other UN language.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Interns do not receive a salary. They do however receive a living allowance. The allowance depends on the duty station and other external support (grant, scholarships, etc.) received by the intern. In Geneva, the maximum amount of the allowance provided by WHO is CHF 1680 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 a lumpsum of CHF 20 for each working day to buy lunch at WHO campus or elsewhere. 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.
• Interns are not eligible to take up a consultant or other non-staff contract in WHO for a period of three months following the end of the internship. However, no such restriction applies to temporary or longer-term staff positions if the vacancy has been advertised and a competitive process completed.
• 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 (https://www.who.int/about/values) 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 reasonableaccommodation@who.int
• 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 Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (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 directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.