The World Health Organization (WHO) has opened applications for its Health Emergencies Internship 2026, offering students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in global epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Hosted within the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Management (EPM), the full-time internship will run for 24 weeks, from 5 October 2026 to 19 March 2027, providing participants with practical exposure to international public health, medical countermeasures and emergency response systems. Applications close on 31 July 2026. Internship supports WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness efforts The internship is based within WHO’s Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Unit, which works to improve equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics and other essential medical tools during health emergencies. The unit supports several major global initiatives, including: International Coordination Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision. WHO BioHub System. Influenza Medical Countermeasures Programme. International Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM-Net). These initiatives help countries prepare for and respond to disease outbreaks by strengthening access to life-saving medical countermeasures and improving international collaboration. About the internship Selected interns will work alongside WHO technical experts on projects related to epidemic and pandemic preparedness while gaining insight into the organization’s global emergency response systems. The internship aims to help participants understand how WHO headquarters, regional offices and country offices collaborate to improve global health security. Interns will also develop practical research, analytical and communication skills while contributing to ongoing public health projects. Key responsibilities During the internship, participants will assist WHO teams by: Conducting research and analysis Performing literature reviews on medical countermeasures and emerging health technologies. Mapping vaccine, diagnostic and therapeutic product pipelines. Collecting and analysing scientific data. Supporting research on epidemic and pandemic preparedness. Supporting publications Interns will help prepare: Policy briefs. Technical reports. Toolkits. Manuals. Guidance documents. Meeting materials. Scientific summaries. They may also contribute to manuscripts related to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. Assisting with meetings and events Responsibilities include: Supporting workshops and conferences. Assisting with international meetings. Preparing background documents. Helping coordinate activities for WHO global networks and partnerships. ALSO CHECK: World Bank Group (WBG) is Recruiting Young Professionals Worldwide – Here’s What You Need to Know About the Prestigious Leadership Program in 2026 Learning opportunities Throughout the programme, interns will gain practical experience in: Global health emergency preparedness. Medical countermeasure systems. Scientific literature reviews. Research methodology. Data collection and analysis. Technical report writing. Policy development. International public health collaboration. Participants will also learn how WHO coordinates epidemic preparedness across headquarters, regional and country offices. Eligibility requirements Applicants must meet the following academic requirements before beginning the internship: Have completed at least three years of undergraduate study at a recognised university. Be currently enrolled in a university programme leading to a formal qualification. Recent graduates may also apply if they submit their application within 18 months of completing their degree. Eligible fields of study WHO welcomes applicants studying: Medicine. Public Health. Biology. Microbiology. Virology. Biochemistry. Medical Sciences. Bioinformatics. Statistics. Information Sciences. Related health or scientific disciplines. Required skills and experience Successful candidates should demonstrate: Strong teamwork and communication skills. Ability to work in multicultural environments. Scientific research and writing experience. Knowledge of public health or infectious diseases. Experience with statistical analysis or data interpretation. Ability to prepare technical reports. Experience gained through university research or academic projects is considered valuable. Knowledge of statistical software such as R or XLStat is an added advantage. ALSO APPLY: Remote Junior Research Fellowship 2026 Opens for Sustainability and Policy Research Graduates: Apply to SRIc’s Sustainability Lab Internship Language requirements Applicants must have: Expert proficiency in English. Desirable qualifications include: Intermediate knowledge of French. Knowledge of another United Nations language. Financial support Although WHO internships are unpaid, selected interns receive financial assistance to help cover living expenses. Interns based in Geneva may receive: Up to CHF 1,680 per month for those whose permanent residence is outside Geneva. Up to CHF 739 per month for interns whose permanent residence is in Geneva. Daily meal vouchers worth CHF 20 per working day. Medical and accident insurance provided by WHO. The final allowance amount depends on residency status and any external financial support received. Additional information WHO notes that internships are highly competitive and only a limited number of applicants are selected each year. Candidates should also consider the relatively high cost of living and accommodation in Geneva before applying. Successful applicants will be required to provide: Proof of enrolment or graduation. Medical fitness certification. References. Documentation supporting educational qualifications. Any required vaccination records in accordance with WHO policies. Application deadline Interested students and recent graduates should submit their applications before: Application deadline: 31 July 2026 Internship period: 5 October 2026 – 19 March 2027 Location: Geneva, Switzerland The WHO Health Emergencies Internship 2026 offers aspiring public health professionals an opportunity to work alongside international experts while contributing to research and initiatives that strengthen global preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics. APPLY HERE NOW For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the  organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official  organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding. JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW See This Channel For Daily Jobs in South Africa