WHO Internships: Department of Public Health, Social and Environmental Determinants of Health

The Department of Public Health, Social and Environmental Determinants of Health (PHE) of the World Health Organization (WHO) has once again offered IFMSA the opportunity for an internship experience in its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The IFMSA has a long history of fruitful collaboration with this department.

The role of this department is to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies in all sectors so as to address the root causes of environmental threats to health. The internship program in the PHE Department focuses on a wide range of subjects, such as climate change, sustainable development, children’s environmental health, interventions for a healthy environment (healthy urban transport, energy, housing, etc.) and other environmental health issues.

The intern will perform a range of tasks, which can include but are not limited to:

• Raise public awareness and understanding on health consequences of climate change, the co-benefits of mitigation, the role of the health sector in adaptation and mitigation effort, and on the sustainable development and health interlinkages
• Exchange information on how research and arguments pertaining to health can be used to unite NGOs and strengthen arguments for all the other aspects of climate change and sustainable development
• Act as a communication channel between WHO PHE and interested NGO groups to streamline communication
• Assist IFMSAs other activities in climate change and sustainable development, which may include advocacy work and capacity building

This Internship opportunity is open to?students who are members of IFMSA National Member Organizations.
Such a student:

• Should be aged between 20 to 34 years old
• Must be enrolled in a course of study (graduate or post-graduate) at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a formal qualification, preferably with a minimum of three years of study
• Should have the ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams
• Must have excellent oral and written skills in English (a necessary requirement)
• Should have good understanding of the field of environmental health and demonstrate passion and interest for the departments area of work
• Should have the ability to produce results within deadlines and work well under pressure, be flexible and independent and possess problem solving skills
• Should be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media
• Must possess a passport of a WHO Member State

Please check all the requirements, eligibility criteria, and conditions at:?http://www.who.int/employment/internship/en/.

Kindly note that WHO is not able to provide funding for or payment to?interns. However, WHO may be able to provide a visa support letter upon request to selected applicants, and IFMSA will provide a support letter for personal fundraising/visa purposes.
Interested applicants should submit the following to [email protected] before Tuesday, December 20^th 2016, 23:59 GMT.

1. Completed online application form (click here)
2. Motivation Letter (maximum 2 pages)
   c. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
   d. Candidature Form signed and stamped by both the applicant and the NMO president certifying your membership in IFMSA (attached to this mail)
3. Letter from University certifying your student status

Please put [WHO PHE] Internship Application 2017 – Name of the applicant as the subject of the e-mail. All application papers will be forwarded to the PHE department for screening and selection. Incomplete and late applications will be deemed invalid.

Selected applicants will be informed of their selection as soon as it has been made available by WHO, and follow-up will be done directly from WHO with the?support of the Liaison Officer to WHO.

Should you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected].