PAHO Internship and Practicum Program - Promoting Public Health's Future Leaders - PAHO/WHO

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recognizes the importance of a new generation of public health leaders who have a clear understanding of global health issues, the role international organizations play in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as addressing critical health needs.

In this regard, the PAHO Internship Program (IP) aims to train dedicated and passionate individuals entering the field of public health who are interested in providing services to PAHO. PAHO interns are matched both in-person and virtually with appropriate technical or administrative programs based on their personal interests and skills. Placement opportunities are available at PAHO Headquarters in Washington, D.C., PAHO Country Offices, as well as the Pan American Centers in South America.

Interns/Internship vs. Volunteers/Practicum

Trainees

While trainees are either interns or volunteers, it is important to distinguish the two.

Internship

An internship is an arrangement between PAHO/WHO and an intern (student or recent graduate) whereby an individual's educational experience is enhanced through practical assignments and exposure to PAHO's work. Internships are not intended for work of a continuing and/or operational nature, nor for work generally performed by a staff member. Internships are approved for a specific period, traditionally ranging from a minimum of eight weeks up to a maximum of six months.

Practicum

A practicum is an arrangement between PAHO/WHO and an individual (volunteer) whose experience and professional background would allow the individual to make a meaningful contribution to the work of a technical department/program and who could be authorized to carry out specific activities on a voluntary basis on PAHO's premises under the supervision of a staff member. Practicums (volunteer opportunities) last between two and six months.

An Intern

An intern is an individual who meets the following criteria:

is at least twenty years of age on the date of application;
is enrolled in a master's or a doctoral program; or has graduated within the last two years from a bachelor's, master’s, or doctoral program;
is fluent in at least one of the working languages of the office of assignment (English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish);
is not related to a staff member as defined in Staff Rule 410.3 (i.e., spouse, children, parents, or siblings of the staff member or the children, parents, or siblings of the staff member's spouse);
has not previously participated in PAHO/WHO's internship program at the same location in the Region of the Americas or at WHO;
has strong writing, research, and organizational skills to support technical cooperation efforts; and
can work independently and demonstrate initiative and flexibility to effectively benefit from an internship at PAHO.

Volunteer

A volunteer is an individual who is at least 20 years old and whose experience and professional background enable the individual to make a valuable contribution to PAHO's work. The individual is expected to have already finished their studies. The individual could be on a sabbatical leave from their government or their employing institution and be available to volunteer at PAHO for a clearly defined period. Volunteers do not have the status of PAHO/WHO staff members and cannot represent PAHO in any official capacity.

The purpose of an Internship

To provide a structural framework to match interns from diverse academic backgrounds with a PAHO technical or administrative program in which their educational experience will be enhanced through practical assignments.
To expose interns to the work and goals of PAHO, and increase their knowledge and understanding of PAHO’s mission.
To provide PAHO programs with invaluable input from interns’ various perspectives and specializations. Most interns are placed in health-related programs, although other disciplines can be considered such as communications, external relations, or human resources.

Requirements

Intern

PAHO/WHO may offer an internship to a student who meets the following criteria:

is at least twenty years of age on the date of application;
is enrolled in a master's or doctoral program; or has graduated within the last two years from a bachelor's, master’s, or doctoral program;
is fluent in at least one of the working languages of the office of assignment (English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish);
is not related to a staff member as defined in Staff Rule 410.3 (i.e., spouse, children, parents, or siblings of the staff member or the children, parents, or siblings of the staff member's spouse);
has not previously participated in PAHO/WHO's internship program at the same location in the Region of the Americas or at WHO;
has strong writing, research, and organizational skills to support technical cooperation efforts; and
can work independently and demonstrate initiative and flexibility to effectively benefit from an internship at PAHO.

For interns located at PAHO Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the intern must also meet the following criteria:

be a U.S. Citizen, or a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident;
have a valid visa with an Employment Authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or be sponsored by PAHO with a G-4 visa;
be a Foreign Student in F-1 Nonimmigrant Status Participating in Curricular Practical Training that provides a valid Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or be a Foreign Student in F-1 Nonimmigrant Status with the correct endorsement in the I-20 by the university.

Volunteer

The same requirements as listed above apply except that volunteers should have already finished their studies and their experience and professional background should enable them to be able to make a valuable contribution to PAHO's work.

Payment, Liability, Insurance

PAHO will provide financial support in the form of a stipend. The stipend is calculated based on the intern’s location and whether the intern is serving on a part-time or full-time basis. The stipend will not be sufficient to cover all costs of the internship and the cost difference should therefore be borne by the intern or their sponsoring institutions or governments. This includes costs relating to travel, living, and accommodation, which are the responsibility of the intern.

PAHO will provide, at no cost to the intern, accident and illness insurance coverage during the internship assignment.

The following stipulations should be noted with regard to insurance coverage: PAHO accepts no responsibility or liability for costs arising from damages, travel, accident, and/or illness incurred during an internship.

Future Employment at PAHO

Following completion of an internship with PAHO, an intern may not be hired under any staff or non-staff contractual arrangement with the PAHO for a period of six (6) months. Any subsequent employment with PAHO after the six (6) month period shall be subject to established recruitment and selection procedures.

Visa

When required, a visa must be obtained by the intern prior to initiating travel to the country/place of work. It is the responsibility of the intern to apply for and obtain the appropriate visa prior to departure. PAHO may assist if there is a PAHO office in the country of departure. Interns who will be working at PAHO's headquarters in Washington, D.C. must be lawfully present and able to participate as interns pursuant to U.S. State Department and USCIS rules and regulations.

Applicants interested in interning at PAHO's headquarters in Washington, D.C. who are not already lawfully present in the United States in an immigration status which permits the intern to participate, must apply for and be granted a G-4 visa prior to beginning their internship. Human Resources Management will provide a letter to the intern for use in applying for a G-4 visa. PAHO will not sponsor a G-4 visa for the dependents of persons working at PAHO under the PAHO internship program.

Interns with the following types of visas are also eligible:

Foreign Students in F-1 Nonimmigrant Status Participating in Curricular Practical Training (OPT or CPT); and
Foreign Students in F-1 Nonimmigrant Status with the correct endorsement in the I-20.

For other types of visas, please contact the Internship and Practicum Coordinator at interns@paho.org who will advise you as to whether or not your visa is acceptable.

How to apply?

Candidates from across the globe are invited to express interest in specific areas of work and organizational locations (regional offices, country offices or headquarters).

All applications should be made through the PAHO Careers platform.

Application schedule

The vacancy notices are opened each year for six months at a time:

From February to June; and
From July to December.

Internship applications are made available to technical units for review year-round. You are welcome to apply at any time when the vacancy notice is open. A PAHO technical unit may contact you at any time regarding an internship. The period for the review of applications is, therefore, indeterminate. If you do not hear from a PAHO technical unit during the first year, you are welcome to reapply if you still meet the eligibility requirements.

If selected for a PAHO Internship, you will be asked to provide proof of education accomplishments. Do not send these or other documents until specifically asked to do so.

All applications for PAHO Internships are made available to technical units for review. The period for this review is indeterminate. You will not be informed of the status of your application. If you do not hear from a PAHO technical unit within 12 months after the closing date of the application, you can assume that you will not be considered for a PAHO internship at this time.

Important reminders

PAHO provides a stipend. Be aware that living in the Americas region, and Washington, D.C. in particular, can be expensive, and finding living accommodations can be challenging. Past interns have financed their internships through scholarship programs or grants. Please note, however, that PAHO is not able to sign any agreements, proposed or required, by a sponsor, university, or equivalent institution.

PAHO does NOT charge for internships, therefore, beware of any programs that "facilitate" your obtaining an internship by requiring payment.

If you are selected for an internship and are searching for living accommodations in Washington, D.C., beware of scams. It is recommended that you do not make advance payments or provide deposits prior to your arrival.