OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and – where capacity is not available – lead, coordinate or develop the international health response to epidemics and humanitarian crises to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. Critical to this function is the rapid detection and risk assessment of threats and set up of effective operations, ensuring that emergency-affected populations in acute and protracted emergencies have access to essential health services.
The Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Management (EPM) advances global efforts to prevent and control existing and emerging infectious diseases by increasing access to evidence-based interventions; fostering impactful innovation; and leveraging technical, operational and strategic partnerships. In addition, EPM develops global mechanisms to facilitate coordination and collaboration between countries and multi-sectoral partners for catastrophic events of natural, accidental or deliberate origin.
The Emerging Zoonoses and High Impact Epidemics (EZH) Unit develops strategies, guidance, global mechanisms and interventions to address emerging zoonoses and high threat pathogens responsible for epidemics or pandemics, thereby reducing their impact on affected populations and limiting their international spread. As part of the Unit, the Epidemic Bacterial Diseases (EBD) team leads WHO's technical work on disease control and outbreak preparedness and response across epidemic-prone bacterial infections, including cholera, bacterial meningitis and meningococcal infection, diphtheria and plague, hosts the Secretariat of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), and provides technical support to the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision. This internship will offer the selected candidate to contribute directly to the team’s technical work, with a primary focus on disease surveillance and outbreak analytics.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Under the supervision of a technical expert in the respective area, the intern is assigned the agreed terms of reference:
- Contribute to the development and production of epidemiological information products on cholera, bacterial meningitis/meningococcal disease, diphtheria, plague, and other outbreak-prone bacterial threats:
- Support the routine compilation and validation of epidemiological and laboratory surveillance data reported from WHO Regional and Country offices and other relevant sources;
- Support the documentation and, where feasible, the reproducible automation of recurring analytical workflows;
- Support the development of the multi-country surveillance databases, including data structuring, quality control and preparation of the associated information products;
- Contribute to descriptive epidemiological analyses, including epidemic curves, attack rates, case fatality rates, age and sex distribution, geographic and temporal trends, and year-on-year comparisons, and prepare clear tables, figures and maps for internal and external audiences.
- Support the development of WHO guidelines and normative and implementation guidance documents on the surveillance and control of outbreak-prone bacterial diseases:
- Contribute to evidence review, synthesis and appraisal to inform the development of evidence-based recommendations on disease control, including support to the preparation of manuscripts, peer-reviewed publications and other technical output;
- Support the preparation of technical documents for meetings and consultations with groups of experts and contribute to drafting technical reports;
- Support the development of standard operating procedures, practical guides and accompanying training materials.
- Contribute to the operational and data-management work that underpins outbreak response, including but not limited to, vaccine provision for epidemic-prone bacterial diseases.
- Participate in on-going Epidemic Bacterial Diseases team, EZH unit and EPM departmental projects and meetings, and support the preparation of meeting materials and summaries, as requested.
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 WHO's work on epidemic and pandemic management, with a special focus on prevention and control of epidemic-prone bacterial diseases;
• Understand how global epidemiological surveillance data are reported, validated and used, and how the work on disease surveillance is coordinated across Headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices;
• Understand how WHO supports outbreak response, including vaccine provision, for epidemic-prone diseases;
• Know how to assemble, clean and quality-assure multi-country surveillance data, prepare a descriptive epidemiological analysis, and learn to translate epidemiological analysis into concise information products;
• Gain practical experience in the development WHO guidelines and guidance documents, standard operating procedures and scientific publications;
• Communicate clearly, orally and in writing, about outbreak epidemiology and the interpretation and limitations of surveillance data.
DURATION OF INTERNSHIP
24 weeks from 16 November 2026 to 30 April 2027.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Have completed the equivalent of three years of full-time studies in public health, medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, data science or a related field 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 18 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 and PowerPoint. Working knowledge of a statistical software package for data management and analysis, in particular R, is desirable. Familiarity with data visualisation, reproducible reporting (e.g. R Markdown or Quarto), version control, or geographic information systems and mapping tools would be an advantage.
Experience
• Experience in the subject area through academic work or research, particularly in infectious disease epidemiology, outbreak analytics, and disease control;
• Experience in data management and analysis of surveillance or other health data;
• Experience with statistical packages and interest in the design of graphical display and analysis of health information;
• Experience and interest in drafting reports and preparing technical documents;
• Experience in the preparation of scientific manuscripts or interest in operational research.
Languages
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of another 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 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 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 shws@who.int.
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