Public Health Intern

H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Internship

Target Start Date

2024-02-01

Job Posting End Date

January 4, 2024

Terms of Reference

Background information/Organizational Context

The Public Health Section (PHS) in the Division of Resilience Solutions supports UNHCR’s objectives to reduce morbidity and mortality among populations of concern through ensuring access to quality preventive, curative, promotive, rehabilitative, and palliative health services. UNHCR works with partners including governments and NGOs to provide access to health services, strengthen national health services and include refugees in national health systems and plans. Within this portfolio, advancing integration of refugees into national systems in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) are key priorities.

• Fostering inclusion of refugees into national health policies and plans while simultaneously strengthening national health systems ensures sustainable access to quality health care for refugees and host communities. The upcoming Global Refugee Forum in December 2023 and preparatory steps such as the Group of Friends Health provide a unique opportunity to advance the inclusion agenda.
• NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and epilepsy, are the greatest source of preventable illness, disability and mortality worldwide. Refugees and asylum seekers are particularly vulnerable to NCDs and may face barriers to adequate health care.
• Most maternal and newborn deaths are preventable when skilled care is accessible before, during and after childbirth. Yet despite advances, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are not always available at the onset of a refugee crisis, nor are comprehensive services always available later in the displacement cycle.

Benefits of undertaking this internship assignment include:

• The intern will gain practical understanding of the Public Health work of UNHCR in general and inclusion into national health systems, NCDs and SRH in particular, and also understand the roles and responsibilities at headquarters, regional and country level;
• Will learn more about the challenges and potential solutions of public health programming in refugee and related humanitarian contexts;
• Will have a greater understanding of the work across sectors to improve health outcomes in refugee contexts.
• Enhance educational experience through practical work assignments

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will work under the guidance of headquarters senior public health officer (SPHO) and other PHS staff on:

• Assist in managing the Group of Friends of Health for Refugees and Host communities (collating information, support agenda development, keeping of notes, supporting development of concept notes and reports).
• In collaboration with the SPHO and other public health staff, actively engage in communication and follow up with partners in the pledging area of health and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).
• Support the Public Health Section in reporting requirements including assisting in reviewing, analysing and collating country and regional level reports for global indicator analysis.
• Assist in the preparation of the NCD in humanitarian contexts conference in February 2024, by collating information, support agenda development, keeping of notes, supporting development of concept notes and reports.
• Support the public health team in sustaining the new Community of Practice for Public Health and capacity strengthening initiatives related to inclusion, NCD, SRH and wider public health themes.

Minimum Qualifications Required/ Eligibility

• Recent graduate (those persons who completed their studies within two years of applying) or current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by UNESCO; and
• Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a clinical or public health related study or have first work experience in public health.

Eligibility

In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Recent graduate (those persons who completed their studies within two years of applying) or current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by UNESCO; and
• Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of the Organization or have first work experience in public health.

Desirable qualification and skills:

• Clinical and/or public health qualification; or social sciences/psychology background with qualification in public health, global health or related areas;
• Prior experience with health system strengthening is desirable;
• Experience in supporting the organization of public speaking events desirable;
• Strong interest in refugee situations and in humanitarian or development issues;
• Experience in facilitating collaboration and sharing of organizational information through knowledge management tools and technologies
• Experience working with computer software such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word; data visualization techniques;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic or any other UN language is an asset;
• Good written and oral communication skills with strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to deal with persons of various cultural and educational backgrounds;
• Ability to work independently, when necessary;
• Flexibility and adaptability.

Allowance

Interns will receive an allowance to partially help to cover the cost of food, local transportation and living expenses.

To Apply:

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training.

We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

English

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Desired Languages

,

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Skills

Additional Qualifications

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other Information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance