WHO Research Internship Job 2026: Eligibility, Living Allowance, Duties and How to Apply
Overview
The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, is offering a 12-week, full-time Research, Ethics and Innovation internship. It is hosted by the Research, Ethics and Innovation Unit within the Division of Data, Strategy and Innovation and runs from September to December 2026. The unit helps countries strengthen their research and development systems, research ethics and governance, and responsible innovation in health. The internship is ungraded.
What you get
WHO does not pay a salary for internships but provides eligible interns with a living allowance, along with additional financial and insurance support. Working under a technical expert, the intern carries out literature reviews and evidence syntheses on research ethics, governance and responsible AI in health, and researches challenges facing national research ethics and governance mechanisms across WHO Member States. The intern also helps prepare background reports, briefing notes, presentations, meeting documents and research summaries, assists with technical meetings, workshops, webinars and expert consultations, and supports knowledge management.
The work plan runs in stages. Weeks 1 to 3 cover literature reviews and an analytical framework, weeks 4 to 7 cover country mapping and data compilation, weeks 8 to 10 involve drafting analytical outputs, and weeks 11 and 12 are for finalizing them.
Who can apply
Candidates should have completed the equivalent of three years of full-time university-level study in a relevant field such as public health, global health, health policy, health sciences, bioethics, research ethics, health law, public law or international law. Recent graduates may be considered if they apply within six months of completing their qualification. Strong communication and teamwork skills are important.
Key dates
The internship takes place from September to December 2026. Applications close on September 2, 2026.