WHO Ethics Internship 2027: Paid Living Allowance Opportunity in Geneva
Overview
The World Health Organization (WHO) is offering an Ethics Internship in Geneva, Switzerland, within its Science for Health division. The full-time internship runs for 24 weeks, from 1 February to 16 July 2027. The Ethics team acts as a focal point for ethical questions across the organization, develops global norms in health ethics and helps Member States build capacity to handle ethical challenges in public health programmes and policies. Its areas include public health surveillance, genomics, research with human participants, equitable access to health services, technology governance, health inequalities, resource allocation, emergency preparedness and climate change.
Who can apply
Applicants should be enrolled in a postgraduate qualification or apply within 18 months of completing one. Relevant fields include bioethics, public health, medicine, philosophy, law and related disciplines. Candidates need an interest in applied ethics and familiarity with key ethical concepts, especially those linked to public health, climate change and emerging technologies.
Requirements
Expert English in reading, writing and speaking is essential. Intermediate French is desirable, and another UN language is beneficial. Applicants should be familiar with Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and use artificial intelligence responsibly for research. WHO also looks for teamwork, written and verbal communication, respect for individual and cultural differences, quality results and willingness to learn.
Under a Senior Ethics Specialist, the intern takes part in ethics projects and meetings, prepares briefs, evidence summaries, meeting notes, draft reports and presentations, and reviews and synthesizes academic and grey literature. They support development, piloting and implementation of TArGET, the WHO-OECD Tool for the Anticipatory Governance of Emerging Technologies in Public Health, and work on ethical issues in public health surveillance. They may also help prepare consultations, workshops and expert meetings.
What you get
The internship is unpaid, but WHO provides a living allowance set by duty station and the intern's circumstances. In Geneva the maximum is CHF 739 per month for interns whose permanent residence is Geneva and up to CHF 1,680 per month for those living elsewhere, calculated after selection from financial disclosure information. Geneva interns also receive lunch vouchers worth CHF 20 per working day, and WHO provides accident and medical insurance.
How to apply
The internship is highly competitive, and only candidates under serious consideration are contacted. Selected candidates must provide certified proof of enrolment in an eligible course, a completed WHO medical certificate of fitness for work and reference contact details.
Key dates
Applications close on 23 October 2026.