Internship – Department of UHS/Health Systems, Health Systems Resilience Unit

.

Intern – Department of UHS/Health Systems, Health Systems Resilience Unit (2407302)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Eastern Mediterranean Region is challenged by an unparalleled number of large-scale disasters, humanitarian crises and forced displacements. This is troublesome by fragile health systems in many countries of the region. In this context progress towards achieving universal health coverage and health security and other health-related Sustainable Development Goals is extremely challenging. The Health Systems Resilience (HSR) Unit at the Department of UHC/Health Systems at WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is a strategic initiative that aims to explore innovative ways to foster health system resilience to achieve the dual goal of UHC and health security. In addition, it aims to support emergency affected countries with health system recovery processes with a build-back-better approach, and in the context of fragile and conflict-affected settings with operationalizing a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach. The HSR Unit achieve its objectives by integrating the work of WHO’s health system development and health emergency programmes, and acts as a bridge between the Department of UHC/Health Systems and WHO Health Emergency Programme (WHE) and other technical programmes as it deems needed.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Terms of reference

Under the supervision of Regional Adviser for Health Systems in Emergencies, the intern is assigned the below terms of reference on the area of “Health systems resilience and recovery from emergencies”:

• review literature and conduct literature surveys
• undertake web research and data collection on specific subject area
• organize data and documents
• participate in the development of tools and guidelines
• assist in drafting, formatting and editing policy briefs, tool kits, guides/manuals, hand-outs, brochures and reports
• assist in organizing workshops, meetings, conferences, events
• participate in on-going departmental projects

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:

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>Understand the objectives of the health systems resilience and recovery area of work

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>Communicate clearly about the aforementioned area of work

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>Understand the difference of work between headquarters, regional offices and country offices

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>Know how to conduct and review literature surveys

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>Know how to assemble data and prepare a comprehensive analysis

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>Prepare background documents for meetings

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>Develop the outline of a document

DURATION OF INTERNSHIP

Start date: 01/10/2024

End date: 31/04/2025

Total week: 24 weeks

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Have completed the equivalent of three years of full-time studies 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 six 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, PowerPoint. Knowledge of specialized computer programmes, for example, statistical software such as XLStat may be an advantage.
Experience
<– [if supportLineBreakNewLine]–>
<–[endif]–>

• 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
• More specific experience such as specialized computer programmes

Languages

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Arabic or French.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Interns do not receive a salary. They do however receive a living allowance. The allowance depends on the duty station and other external support (grant, scholarships, etc.) received by the intern. 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. 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 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 details
• Interns are not eligible to take up a consultant or other non-staff contract in WHO for a period of three months following the end of the internship. However, no such restriction applies to temporary or longer-term staff positions if the vacancy has been advertised and a competitive process completed.

<– [if supportLists]–>·<–[endif]–>WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to putthe WHO Values Charterinto 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.