Internships

Start your career with UNICEF

What we offer

The UNICEF Internship Programme offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain direct practical experience with UNICEF’s work. Internship opportunities are available worldwide. Learn more about where we work

When a UNICEF office identifies the need for an intern to support their team, they publish the opportunity, and all eligible candidates can submit their application through our website. You can find current opportunities on our vacancies page.

Build a compelling profile and get your dream job with these application and assessment tips.

How to join us

To be considered for an internship, you must meet the following requirements:

Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or PhD programme or have graduated within the past two years.
Be proficient in at least one of UNICEF’s working languages: English, French or Spanish. Fluency in the working language of the office you are applying to, may also be required.
Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university/education records.
Have no immediate relatives (e.g. mother, father, sister, brother) working with UNICEF.
Have no other relatives in your reporting line of authority.
Be at least 18 years old.

Additional consideration will be given to any professional experience relevant to the function you’re applying for.

All our interns are entitled to a stipend as a contribution towards living expenses, paid by UNICEF or a partner institution. A one-time lump sum, as a contribution towards travel and visa costs, may also be granted when funding is available.

Frequently asked questions for Internships

Internship programme common questions and answers

If I am selected, what kind of work will I be doing?

This will depend on the needs of the office to which you are assigned, your qualifications and interests. If you have specific interests or requirements for your degree, you should include this information on your cover letter. Most interns work on one or several projects that include research, database management, communications and many other areas. Please refer to the internship vacancy for more information about the specific tasks of the internship position.

How long is the programme?

For the internship to be worthwhile and effective, the duration is usually between 6 and 26 weeks.

Can I get financial support from UNICEF?

Although we encourage our offices to pay our interns a stipend, opportunities can be unpaid or paid, subject to funds availability. Regardless of the internship payment modality, all successful applicants are expected to make their own arrangements for travel, lodging and living expenses during the internship period.

Do I need to be at the office full-time?

While most of our internships are full-time, some are not. How long and how often you work in the office depends on the agreement you make with your supervisor and the project and office you are assigned to. Some internships can be carried out on a part-time basis, or even remotely.

When should I apply?

Internship vacancies are advertised throughout the year on our vacancies page. Refer to the details of the specific vacancy for important dates such as the deadline for application and the duration of the internship.

Should I contact UNICEF to arrange an interview?

No, if UNICEF wants to interview you, either in person or by phone, we will contact you, based on the contact details you provide on your application.

Will I be hired by UNICEF after my internship?

There should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. However, interns may be eligible to apply for certain positions within UNICEF, subject to internal policies, including those governing breaks in service. A UNICEF internship is a valuable and well-regarded asset in any resume/CV and can serve as the foundation for one’s career.

How to partner with UNICEF’s internship program?

We partner with leading academic institutions and other organizations to continuously improve the quality and diversity of our interns. If you are interested in partnering with UNICEF, contact us at internship@unicef.org

What if my question was not answered by these FAQs?

If you have questions that have not been answered in the internship FAQs, contact internship@unicef.org.

For more information please open this link

https://www.unicef.org/careers/internships

World Health Organization: WHO

WHO internship programme

A competent and dynamic health workforce at the heart of each health system is essential to advance global health goals. Countries need to have a pool of health professionals who are trained and exposed to the systems and processes in the health sector and understand how stakeholders interact within the international health arena.

WHO as the leader in global public health issues is committed to building a diverse pool of future leaders in public health. WHO’s Internship Programme offers a wide range of opportunities for graduate and postgraduate students to gain insight in the technical and administrative programmes of WHO while enriching their knowledge and experience in the health field, thereby contributing to the advancement public health.

What are the objectives?

– Provide a framework for assigning postgraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds to WHO programmes that can enhance their educational experience through practical assignments.

– Expose students to the work of WHO.

– Provide WHO programmes with input from students specializing in various fields. Most students are placed in health-related programmes, although other disciplines can be considered as appropriate such as communication, external relations or human resources.

The duration of WHO internships is between six to twenty four weeks depending on the needs of the WHO technical unit and the intern’s availability.

New Support

As of January 2020, WHO provides stipends to students who need support. After selection, the interns will fill a disclosure form to indicate if they already have support (grant / scholarships, etc.). Based on this disclosure form, WHO will provide stipends up to a specific amount per duty station. The amount will be indicated for each position the students apply to.

WHO provides to all interns a medical and accident insurance. All costs of travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the intern candidate.

Who we are looking for?

– You are at least twenty years of age on the date of application.

– You are enrolled in a course of study at a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification (graduate or postgraduate) (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).

– You have completed three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution prior to commencing (bachelor’s level or equivalent) the assignment.

– You possess a first degree in a public health, medical or social field related to the technical work of WHO or a degree in a management-related or administrative field.

– You are not related to a WHO staff member (e.g., son/daughter, brother/sister, or mother/father).

– You are fluent at least in one of the working language of the office of assignment.

– You have not previously participated in WHO’s Internship Programme.

– You hold a valid passport of a WHO Member State.

WHO internship programme in our Regional Offices and WHO Headquarters

WHO has a Internship Vacancies where candidates from across the world are invited to express interest in specific areas of work and organizational locations (regional offices, country offices or headquarters).

If you want additional information on WHO’s internship programme in our Regional Offices or Headquarters, please refer to the website of the respective office.

WHO Headquarters in out-posted offices also accepts interns

WHO Global Service Centre (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia): gsoffice@who.int
WHO Kobe Centre (Kobe, Japan): wkc@who.int
WHO Lyon Office (Lyon, France): ihrinfo@who.int
WHO Office at the United Nations (New York, United States of America): whonewyork@who.int

How to apply?

Candidates from across the world are invited to express interest in specific areas of work and organizational locations (regional offices, country offices or headquarters).

All applications should be made through the vacancies posted on the WHO Careers site using the WHO corporate recruitment system (Stellis).

Update on Application process

Internships opportunities with WHO are currently limited due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the confinement measures in place in several countries.
Offers may resume depending on the evolution of the pandemic in each duty station. Please monitor the Internship Vacancies page to have more information.
We thank students for their understanding and encourage them to stay safe at home

For more information please open this link

https://www.who.int/careers/internships/en/

WHO internships at Headquarters

Conditions of the WHO Internship Programme

You are at least twenty years of age on the date of application.
You are enrolled in a course of study at a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification (graduate or postgraduate) (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).
You have completed three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution prior to commencing (bachelor’s level or equivalent) the assignment.
You possess a first degree in a public health, medical or social field related to the technical work of WHO or a degree in a management-related or administrative field.
You are not related to a WHO staff member (e.g., son/daughter, brother/sister, or mother/father).
You are fluent at least in one of the working language of the office of assignment.
You have not previously participated in WHO’s Internship Programme.
The duration of WHO internships is between six to twenty four weeks on a full-time basis.
Travel costs, travel arrangements (including visas), and living accommodations are the responsibility of the intern.
As of January 2020, WHO provides stipends to students who need support. After selection, the interns will fill a disclosure form to indicate if they already have support (grant / scholarships, etc.) Based on this disclosure form, WHO will provide stipends up to a specific amount per duty station. The amount will be indicated for each position the students apply to.
WHO provides to all interns a medical and accident insurance coverage during the entire period of the internship.
WHO interns must provide a medical certificate of fitness for work prior to the start of their internship.
Interns must disclose any circumstances that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest related to the subject of the activity in which they will be involved during the course of their assignment (Declaration of Interest).
Interns do not have the status of WHO staff members and shall not represent the Organization in any official capacity.
WHO Interns are not eligible for appointment to non staff position within WHO for a period of three months following the end of their internship. However, no such restriction will apply to temporary or longer term staff positions if the vacancy has been advertised and a competitive process completed. Any employment with WHO shall be subject to established recruitment and selection procedures. Interns and former interns are free to apply as external candidates to any vacant positions which are open to external candidates and for which they are qualified.
WHO does not sign any agreements, proposed or required by a sponsor, university or equivalent institution.

How to apply for an internship with WHO Headquarters

WHO has Internship Vacancies, please refer to WHO’s internship programme main page for the application schedule (section “How to apply”).
If you are interested to be in Geneva, please select only positions located in headquarters/Geneva

Information on the application process in our recruitment system (Stellis)

The application process requires completing a profile in Stellis that covers eligibility questions, information on education, current studies, language skills and experience (including qualifications/certifications, trainings, publications and computer skills). You will also be asked to write about your motivation for applying for a specific WHO Internship position. There is no other possibility to apply for an internship at WHO outside Stellis.

Students who lack professional experience may find it challenging to complete the experience section. Suggestion: Review your experience in light of your academic career or any activities you’ve done. Show how these experiences have provided you with skills and competencies to work in a team, to make decisions and to solve problems. They may relate to your actual schooling or a personal situation.

In the cover letter, state your motivation for applying to the specific WHO Internship that you have chosen. Describe to what type of project you feel you could contribute while interning with WHO. Include any additional information that you feel would facilitate the selection process.

Please do not use a generic letter. Your cover letter has to be customized to the specific position you are interested in.

If short-listed/selected for the WHO internship, the Technical Unit will contact you to discuss the Terms of Reference of the position and conduct an informal interview. During the discussion, we recommend you to ask as many questions and clarification as necessary so that you are fully aware of what will be required from you during the assignment. We also recommend that you discuss the learning objectives.

If selected for a WHO Internship, you will be asked to provide proof of enrolment in a course of studies, a medical certificate of fitness for work, and to complete a Declaration of Interest that includes a disclosure section on support that you are receiving. Do not send these or other documents until specifically asked to do so.

All applications for WHO Internships are reviewed by the technical units with the support of the Human Resources Department.

An important reminder: although WHO is now providing stipends (see the exact amount on the vacancy notice), be aware that living in Geneva is expensive and finding accommodation can be challenging. Some interns have financed their internships through scholarships programmes. Please note, however, that WHO is not in a position to sign any agreements, proposed or required by a sponsor, university or equivalent institution.

Please note: WHO does NOT charge for internships so beware of any programmes that “facilitate” your obtaining an internship but require payment.

Warning: If selected for an internship and you are identifying accommodation in Geneva, beware of scams: we recommend not to make advance payments or provide guarantee sums in advance of your arrival.

WHO receives a very large number of applications each year.

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