Internship Activities

Department of HIV and AIDS

A clear structured set of activities targeted to interns has been established in the
Department of HIV/AIDS since 2004, have contributed to build a basic capacity among
the interns and was beneficial for the work of the department.

This document updates and describes objectives, selection criteria, selection process,
program and managerial structure for internship activities in the Department of HIV and
AIDS.

Objectives of the Internship programme in the Department of HIV and AIDS

Related to Interns

• To contribute to a better understanding of the public health approach to

HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment
• To enhance familiarity with WHO efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention and care,
particularly in the area of scaling up treatment and accelerating prevention in the
health sector
• To contribute to a specific HIV/AIDS activity or project in the Department, which
will lead to a specific product
•

Related to WHO

• To benefit from the information generated as part of intern projects

• To create a network of young and skilled professionals who may work in the
implementation of national/local HIV/AIDS programmes, and have a positive
influence on knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and
treatment

Selection criteria

• Completed three years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution

prior to commencing the assignment
• Enrolled in a recognized University/Institute, or following a regular training
course, preferably related to one of the activities area of the Department of HIV
and AIDS; or recently graduated from an educational institution or training
program (maximum 6 months after graduation)
• Evidence of ability to function in different cultural and social environments
• Good working knowledge of English. Knowledge of another UN official language
is an asset.
• A minimum age of 20
 • Interest, experience or skills in HIV and AIDS
• Education or experience in a developing country affected by the HIV/AIDS

Selection process

Internship periods

There are two internship periods each year. The summer internship period runs from 1
May to 31 October and the winter internship period runs from 1 November to 30 April.

Application process

1. For details, please read “How to apply for the internship” listed below.
2. A selection committee meets in March and in November to select candidates. If
there is a need to select interns who may be available for their internship during
other periods of the year, the committee will meet to make the necessary
selections.
3. Once a candidate is selected a mentor needs to be identified. The mentor, jointly
with the candidate, establishments the internship period and develop the TOR
(which is checked by the internship coordinator)
4. All administrative procedures are conducted by mentor's assistant (Letter of
acceptance signed by the Director of the Department and insurance procedures).
The department must have all the documents signed by the intern before starting
the internship.

Programme Activities

• A minimum of 8 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks are recommended. An

extension to 24 weeks is possible if needed.
• The main activity must be linked with a specific project related with HIV/AIDS.
Examples of final products: review paper, research proposal, contribution to a
research project, contribution to the development of norms, standard and
guidelines, progress reports, policy papers, construction of databases, etc
• Each HIV/AIDS Departmental team regularly identifies mentors jointly with the
coordination of the activity
• Interviews with mentor, internship coordinator, MSU and selected professional
staff related with the area of internship, will be conducted in the first week.
• Reading of key HIV/AIDS WHO documents must be accomplished previous to
the internship.
• Short seminars will be organized by Internship co-ordinator regularly once a
month and each intern presents progress in relation to her/his project.
• Meeting are held, individually or in small groups, to brief the interns about WHO
and the Department of HIV/AIDS
• An evaluation is completed by the intern at the end of the internship period and,
upon request, a letter signed by the mentor can be provided
• Letter of completion drafted by the mentor and signed by Director HIV/AIDS
Managerial issues

• Internship committee,

 A. Gerbase , Coordinator (OTS)

 A. Bitalabehoa (HSS)
 C. Obermeyer (SIR),
 S. Crowley (ATC)

• The members participate in the selection of the candidates, steer the internship set
of activities and contribute to its development.
• Selection of interns is made by the internship committee meeting in March and
November. Ad hoc meetings are also held if necessary
• It is anticipated that no more than six interns would be in the department at any
given time.
• Working space and computer facilities will be provided
• The interns' database containing basic information to follow the activity is
updated regularly by the coordinator and shared with internship committee and
mentors.
• A report on the activity is be conducted once a year, results disseminated inside
the department and modifications made as needed.

How to apply for the Internship

• WHO will be responsible for the final selection of applicants. Successful applicants
undertaking an internship will not be financially remunerated by WHO.
Applicants will be responsible for their own travel and living expenses.
• The deadline for this application is 14 February 2011. As part of your application
please submit:
o An up to date curriculum vitae (CV) providing details on education,
current studies, language and computer skills, and should also indicate
dates of availability and areas of interest.
o A letter of support from your university (i.e. faculty member, dean, etc)
o A one-page motivation letter
o A maximum 1200 word essay on the role of the pharmacist in the
prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS. All essays must be the
original work of the applicant. IPSF reserves the right to publish the
essays received (with acknowledgement of the author).
• The full application shall be submitted electronically to publichealth@ipsf.org no
later than 12:00am GMT 14 February 2011.
Only PDF format of all applications will be accepted.
• If you have any questions about the internships please contact the IPSF
Chairperson of Public Health at publichealth@ipsf.org.