PAHO Internship Program: Requirements and Opportunities in Public Health

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) offers an Internship Program designed to provide invaluable experience to individuals passionate about public health. This program aims to immerse dedicated individuals in the field, offering hands-on experience within the leading health agency in the Americas.

Program Overview

The PAHO Internship Program seeks 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.
Expose interns to the work and goals of PAHO and increase their knowledge and understanding of PAHO’s mission.
Provide PAHO programs with invaluable input from interns’ various perspectives and specializations.

PAHO interns are matched both in-person and virtually with appropriate technical or administrative programs based on their area of studies, professional interests, and skills. Internships are normally for a specific period ranging from eight weeks to six months, and individuals can only participate once as an Intern. Most interns are placed in health-related programs, although other disciplines can be considered such as communications, external relations, or human resources.

PAHO offers students an opportunity to use their writing, research, and organizational skills to work on special technical projects that are related to international health issues and to know about international technical cooperation in health. Internships in the health profession, specifically in public health, are a valuable opportunity for students to acquire new skills, as well as implement their recently acquired academic knowledge. The internship experience represents the culmination of formal academic training in the Public Health Profession.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the PAHO Internship Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Read also: Internship Guide

Be at least twenty years of age on the date of application.
Be in the last year of a bachelor’s degree, 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.
Be fluent in at least one of the working languages of the office of assignment (English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish).
Not be related to a staff member by blood or marriage.
Has not previously participated in PAHO’s internship program.
Possess strong writing, research, and organizational skills to support technical cooperation efforts.
Be able to work independently and demonstrate initiative and flexibility to effectively benefit from an internship at PAHO.

Visa Requirements

When required, a visa must be obtained by the intern prior to initiating travel to the country/place of work. It is the intern’s responsibility to apply for and obtain the appropriate visa prior to departure.

Interns who will be working at the PAHO HQ in Washington, D.C. must adhere to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services rules and regulations.

Applicants interested in interning at PAHO HQ 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.

To be eligible, interns need to:

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.
Legal Permanent Resident.

Application Process

All applications should be made through the PAHO Career platform. Find the vacancy announcement for PAHO Internships. When applying candidates are invited to express interest in two specific areas of work and two locations in the Americas.

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

From February to June; and
From August to December.

Prospective interns may apply at any time when the vacancy notice is open, and all applications are made available to technical units and country offices for review. A PAHO technical unit may contact you at any time regarding an internship, therefore, the period of time for the application review is 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. You will not be informed of the status of your application and if you do not hear from a PAHO technical unit within 12 months after the closing date of the vacancy, you may reapply to be considered again.

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

Important Considerations

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.
PAHO provides a stipend.
The stipend is calculated based on the intern’s location and whether the intern is serving on a full or part-time basis.
The stipend will not be sufficient to cover all costs of the internship (i.e., travel, living accommodations) and this cost difference is the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution or government.
Be aware that living in the Americas region and Washington, D.C. can be expensive, therefore finding living accommodations can be challenging.
Past interns have financed their internships through scholarships 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.

Insurance Coverage

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

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

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Future Employment

Following completion of an internship with PAHO, an intern may not be hired under any staff or non-staff contractual arrangement with PAHO for a period of six months. Any employment with WHO shall be subject to established recruitment and selection procedures. been advertised and a competitive process completed.

PAHO's Mission and Commitment

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is the specialized international health agency for the Americas. It works with countries throughout the region to improve and protect people's health. PAHO wears two institutional hats: it is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American System and also serves as Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), the specialized health agency of the United Nations.

PAHO recognizes the importance of a new generation of public health leaders who have an understanding of global health issues and the role of international organizations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other health issues.

The Organization invites applications from persons who meet not only the technical qualifications required for each position, but also have the ability to perform in a multicultural environment and share the Organization's values of excellence, integrity and teamwork.

PAHO/WHO makes special efforts to recruit qualified women into its professional ranks. Women are represented at all levels of the organization, from its Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to country offices and centers. The Organization also aims to achieve a broad representation of nationals from Member States and other countries. The nature of PAHO/WHO's work dictates a preference for candidates who are fluent in both in English and Spanish. Other official languages of the Organization are French and Portuguese.

A Proud History

PAHO was founded in 1902 and is the world's oldest international public health agency working to improve the health and well-being of people in the Americas.

Employment Conditions and Benefits

A career with PAHO/WHO promises the staff member a competitive pay and benefits package. Conditions of employment in the Organization conform to those established by the International Civil Service Commission for employment in the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Benefits include 30 working days paid annual leave, comprehensive health insurance coverage and participation in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

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