About the opportunity
The World Health Organization (WHO) is offering a 24-week full-time internship within the Strategic Planning and Partnership (SPP) team, housed in the Executive Director’s Office of the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHE Programme builds Member State capacity to manage health emergency risks and leads international health responses. The SPP team provides overall leadership for strategic planning, performance, partnerships, and financing resources for health emergency response. The selected intern will map key actors and financing trends, collect and reconcile financial tracking data, contribute to data quality assurance, and support the preparation of dashboards, summaries, and analytical products, gaining practical insight into strategic planning and financial tracking in health emergencies.
Salary and benefits
- Monthly living allowance ranging from 739 CHF (for interns with permanent residence in Geneva) up to 1,680 CHF (for interns whose permanent residence is outside Geneva), calculated via a legal financial disclosure form.
- Daily lunch vouchers for meal expenses valued at 20 CHF per working day.
- Accident and medical insurance coverage provided by WHO.
- Structured learning objectives covering the WHE Programme mandate, data management, validation, reconciliation, and international coordination.
Who can apply?
- Have completed the equivalent of three years of full-time studies in public health, health policy, health financing, health economics, data science, or a closely related quantitative field prior to commencing the assignment.
- Be currently enrolled in a course of study at a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification, OR have already graduated and apply within 18 months after completing their formal qualification.
- Demonstrate strong practical knowledge of data management tools such as Excel and R, including formulas, lookups, data validation, conditional formatting, and pivot tables.
- Possess expert knowledge of English; intermediate knowledge of French or another UN language is desirable.
Required documents
- Certified copies of proof of enrollment in an eligible course of studies (if applicable)
- Completed WHO medical certificate of fitness for work
- Contact details for reference checks
- Proof of vaccination as required by WHO before undertaking the assignment
When to apply
- Job Posting Date: Oct 21, 2026
- Application Deadline: Nov 11, 2026, 10:59 PM (UTC)
- Internship Start Date: January 4, 2027
How to apply
- Review the candidate instructions and online application guide provided by WHO.
- Submit your application online through the official WHO careers portal before the closing date.
Additional information
- Duration is 24 weeks on a full-time basis, starting January 4, 2027.
- Higher educational qualifications must be obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
- WHO has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and other types of abusive conduct, and conducts background verifications for final candidates.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Ideal for students or recent graduates in public health, health economics, health financing, or data science seeking hands-on exposure to global health security.
- Well-suited for candidates with strong technical data management skills in Excel and R who enjoy organizing structured data and financial tracking records.
- Provides a valuable entry point into international organizations and global health diplomacy through direct engagement with emergency response financing.
What should you think carefully about?
- Interns do not receive a standard salary; living allowances are capped and depend on permanent residence status and external funding.
- Living and finding accommodation in Geneva can be expensive and challenging, requiring careful personal financial planning.
- The 24-week full-time commitment requires dedicated availability starting in early January 2027.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This internship bridges academic quantitative training with high-impact operational experience in international health emergencies. It helps build robust data management and financial tracking competencies that are directly applicable to careers in global health policy, humanitarian financing, and international development.
Our take
This opportunity is strongly recommended for qualified students and recent graduates with strong quantitative and data skills who want to contribute to global health emergency response. Those unable to relocate to Geneva or manage local living costs on a stipend should weigh the financial considerations carefully.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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