WHO Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting Internship 2026 in Geneva: Paid 24-Week Opportunity for Public Health and Data Science Students ·Week Opportunity for Public Health and Data Science Students

Apply for the WHO Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting Internship 2026 in Geneva. Receive up to CHF 1,680 monthly allowance, lunch vouchers, insurance, and global public health experience. Deadline: 21 August 2026.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially reopened applications for its highly anticipated internship programme, offering an exceptional opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain hands-on experience at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting (SMR) Internship is a 24-week full-time placement designed for aspiring public health professionals interested in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), epidemiology, global health data, health policy, and surveillance systems. Starting on 2 November 2026, the internship allows participants to contribute directly to one of WHO’s flagship global monitoring initiatives while receiving financial support and valuable international work experience.

Applications are open until 21 August 2026.

About the WHO SMR Internship

The internship is hosted within the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) under WHO’s Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care (PPC).

Interns will join the Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting (SMR) Team, which works with governments and WHO regional offices to strengthen health information systems, improve the quality of NCD data, monitor global progress, and support evidence-based health policies.

The selected intern will play an important role in supporting the implementation of the next round of the WHO NCD Country Capacity Survey (NCD CCS), one of the organization’s key global monitoring tools.

Internship Details

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

Programme: Surveillance, Monitoring and Reporting (SMR) Internship

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Contract Type: Internship

Duration: 24 weeks

Start Date: 2 November 2026

End Date: 16 April 2027

Application Deadline: 21 August 2026

What You Will Do

During the internship, participants will support WHO’s global surveillance work by contributing to a wide range of technical and analytical tasks.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting implementation of the WHO NCD Country Capacity Survey
• Tracking survey submissions from participating countries
• Following up on incomplete or missing survey responses
• Validating country submissions using national policies and supporting documentation
• Cleaning, managing and analysing survey data
• Reviewing national NCD policies, strategies and programme documents
• Preparing policy briefs and technical reports
• Drafting presentations and communication materials
• Assisting with documentation and meeting coordination
• Organising information within WHO repositories
• Supporting WHO STEPS and other population-based NCD survey activities
• Maintaining project trackers and knowledge management systems
• Participating in departmental meetings and ongoing projects

Learning Opportunities

This internship provides extensive exposure to WHO’s global public health operations.

Interns will gain practical experience in:

• Global health surveillance systems
• NCD monitoring and reporting
• International public health policy
• Survey implementation and coordination
• Data quality assurance
• Data validation techniques
• Health information systems
• Country capacity assessments
• Policy analysis
• Technical report writing
• Knowledge management
• International collaboration across WHO headquarters, regional and country offices

Participants will also strengthen their analytical, communication and professional writing skills while working alongside global health experts.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must satisfy one of the following academic requirements before beginning the internship:

• Have completed at least three years of full-time university education and currently be enrolled in a degree programme; or
• Have graduated within the last 18 months before submitting the application.

Relevant fields include:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Global Health
• Health Sciences
• Health Policy
• Data Science
• Statistics
• Social Sciences
• International Development
• Other related disciplines relevant to NCD surveillance

Required Skills

WHO is looking for candidates with strong analytical and communication abilities.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Excellent written and spoken English
• Strong teamwork skills
• Effective communication abilities
• Attention to detail
• Ability to produce high-quality work
• Willingness to learn
• Respect for cultural diversity

Candidates should also be comfortable using:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint

Knowledge of statistical software such as R or STATA is considered an advantage.

Preferred Experience

Competitive applicants may have experience in:

• Public health research
• Epidemiology
• Global health projects
• Health systems research
• Data collection
• Data cleaning and validation
• Statistical analysis
• Policy reviews
• Literature reviews
• Report writing
• Presentation preparation
• Database management
• Shared document repositories

Experience preparing policy briefs, technical reports or meeting notes will also strengthen an application.

Language Requirements

Essential

• Expert knowledge of English

Desirable

• Intermediate knowledge of another United Nations language

Financial Benefits

Although WHO internships are unpaid positions, successful interns receive generous financial support.

Benefits include:

• Monthly living allowance
• Up to CHF 1,680 per month for interns residing outside Geneva
• Up to CHF 739 per month for Geneva-based residents
• Daily lunch vouchers worth CHF 20 per working day
• Full accident insurance
• Comprehensive medical insurance
• International work experience at WHO Headquarters
• Networking opportunities with global public health experts
• Professional development through practical project work

The exact living allowance depends on the intern’s financial circumstances and permanent place of residence.

Why This Internship Matters

Few internship opportunities offer direct involvement in global health policy and international surveillance systems.

Interns will contribute to strengthening national health information systems across WHO Member States while helping improve monitoring of noncommunicable diseases and mental health worldwide.

The experience gained in data validation, policy analysis, survey implementation and international collaboration makes this programme particularly valuable for students planning careers in:

• Public health
• Epidemiology
• Global health
• International development
• Health policy
• Biostatistics
• Data science
• International organisations
• United Nations agencies

Working at WHO headquarters also provides unmatched exposure to global decision-making processes and international public health programmes.

Important Notes

WHO notes that internship positions are highly competitive, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applicants should also consider that living in Geneva can be expensive and accommodation may be difficult to secure.

Successful candidates will be required to provide proof of enrolment (or recent graduation), medical clearance, and references before beginning the internship.

WHO is committed to diversity, inclusion, gender equality and maintaining the highest ethical standards across its global workforce.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official WHO Careers Portal before 21 August 2026.

Because applications for WHO internships attract candidates from around the world, early submission is strongly recommended.

For complete eligibility requirements and to apply, visit the official WHO careers website on the button below.

VISIT HERE TO APPLY

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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.

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