Internship at WHO – Department of Reproductive Health and Research

Deadline: 30 March 2020
Open to: applicants with three years of full-time studies and who are enrolled in a course of study at a university or equivalent institution leading to a formal qualification
Benefits: a stipend of USD 1,728 per month

Description

The Department of Reproductive Health Research (RHR) includes the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). HRP is the main instrument within the United Nations system for research in human reproduction. Its activities include promoting, conducting, evaluating, and coordinating interdisciplinary research on sexual and reproductive health; collaborating with countries in enhancing national capacities to conduct this research; promoting and facilitating the use of research results in policy-making and planning for sexual and reproductive health care; and the setting of standards and guidelines, including technical and ethical guidelines, in the field of sexual and reproductive health research. More information about HRP can be found here.

The Intern will support the HRP’s Maternal and Perinatal Health team collaboration with experts in maternal immunization and maternal and perinatal epidemiology contributing to the development of an integrated active safety surveillance system for novel interventions in pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

 Terms of reference

  • Support the collaboration and exchange of information with experts in maternal immunization and maternal and perinatal epidemiology;
  • Collaborate in the conduction of systematic reviews;
  • Undertake web research and data collection on a specific subject area;
  • Organize data and documents;
  • Assist in organizing workshops, meetings, conferences, events;
  • Participate in other on-going departmental projects.

Learning objectives

  • Understand the objective of  integrating active safety surveillance systems for novel interventions in pregnancy to the existing maternal and perinatal data systems;
  • Communicate clearly about HRP’s initiatives in research capacity strengthening in LMICs and their importance;
  • Understand the difference of work between WHO headquarters, regional offices and country offices;
  • Know how to conduct systematic reviews of the literature;
  • Know how to assemble data and prepare a comprehensive analysis.

Eligibility

Education

The applicants should have completed three years of full-time studies (bachelor’s level or equivalent) 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 for the internship within six months after completion of their formal qualification).

Desirable: Enrollment in a program in one of the following fields public health, epidemiology or statistics

Skills

Core competencies

  • Teamwork
  • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural difference
  • 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 such as XLStat may be an advantage.

Experience

  • Experience in collaborating with experts in maternal immunization and perinatal epidemiology
  • Experience in research and/or in drafting reports
  • Experience in the subject area 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 Other UN language.

Benefits

Interns do not receive a salary. They do however receive a stipend. The stipend depends on the duty station and other external support (grant, scholarships, etc.) received by the intern. In Geneva, the maximum amount of the stipend provided by the WHO is USD 1,728 per month. The exact amount of the stipend will be calculated for each intern, after selection, based on a financial disclosure form that they will complete. In addition, all interns in Geneva will receive a daily lunch voucher for a value of USD 15,77 to be used on the WHO campus during the working days. WHO is also providing all interns with an accident and medical insurance coverage.

How to Apply?

For more information and how to apply, please visit the official website.