Internship on Social Health Protection and Health Financing

Grade: Internship

Publication date: 07 April 2025

Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 30 April 2025

Vacancy no.: INTERNROSTER/2025/1/SOCPRO

Job ID: 12874

Department: SOCPRO

Organization Unit: SOCPRO

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Duration of contract: 3 to 6 months (starting on the 1st or the 15th of a given month)

You are applying to the ILO generic internship roster, which is published twice per year. The roster will be made available to all departments and field offices, which will then select and directly contact suitable candidates. Due to the high volume of applications, the ILO does not inform candidates about the status of their application.

The ILO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for you to:

• Increase your understanding of relevant issues at the international level by involving you directly in the work of the Office and the application of ILO principles, programmes and strategies.
• Gain practical experience with the ILO directly related to your field of study.

Please note that you:

• Are requested to apply to a maximum of three internship profiles, otherwise you will be automatically disqualified.
• Must upload a cover letter. Your CV or resumé uploaded as attachments are not accepted.
• Are able to withdraw your application at any time via the Jobs Applied section of your profile.
• May not be contacted for the duration that this roster is active. Should this be the case, we encourage you to reapply if you are still eligible and available.
• Should not expect employment at the end of the internship.
• Must apply before the deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

The ILO values diversity:

We welcome applications from qualified candidates, including from persons with disabilities and those from non- or under- represented member States.

If needed, reasonable accommodation will be provided to candidates with disabilities in the recruitment phase as well as during the internship to promote equality of opportunities. If you are unable to complete your online application form due to a disability, please send an email to E-Mail schreiben.

If you are a national of a non- or under-represented member State, who is pursuing or has completed their studies in their home country, you may be eligible to have your travel costs covered by the ILO to Geneva, Switzerland.

IMPORTANT:

You can only apply for an internship if you:

• Have no close relative serving in the ILO (mother, father, brother, sister).
• Have not already undertaken an internship at the ILO.
• Are enrolled in a Master’s or a Doctorate Programme, or have completed such a programme in the year preceding the application.
• Have a working (both oral and written) knowledge of English. This is mandatory.

Department(s)

The Universal Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) is responsible for promoting enhanced coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all through efficient and sustainable national social protection floors and comprehensive social security systems, in line with the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and other ILO social security standards. SOCPRO consists of four units: the Social Policy Unit, the Programming, Partnerships and Knowledge-sharing Unit, the Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit, and the Actuarial Services Unit. The Social Policy Unit is responsible for providing technical advisory services to constituents in developing and enhancing policy frameworks that govern social protection schemes and programmes and overall national social protection systems, The Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit is responsible for providing financial, actuarial and statistical advice to constituents applying the principles and values of ILO social security standards. The Programming, Partnerships and Knowledge-sharing Unit is responsible for effectively supporting the management and the operations of the Department, supporting the development and management of global partnerships, coordinating the communication and dissemination of social protection knowledge and providing strategic, technical and operational support for the ILO’s Global Flagship programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All. The ILO Actuarial Services Unit, manages the actuarial services for social insurance valuations, namely through development cooperation projects.

Learning areas

Today more than 90 per cent of the population living in low-income countries lack health coverage. 40 per cent of total health expenditures are shouldered directly by the poor. Due to this exclusion the poor and vulnerable are, in case of sickness, exposed to a high risk of deepened impoverishment. Women in particular are often excluded from the most basic services due to gender-biased health schemes and systems. Those exclusions and the urgency to close gaps in coverage were further revealed by the COVID-19 crisis. Guaranteeing access to affordable health care and income security in case of illness is critical, especially in times of pandemic. This includes first and foremost to prevent the impoverishment of individuals and households directly related to seeking care and encouraging preventative behaviours.

Health and social security are human rights and need as such to be guaranteed universally, leaving no one behind. Collectively financed social health protection mechanisms, via social security contributions, taxes, or a combination of both, generate positive redistributive effects and do not transfer the financial and labour market risks onto individuals. This way, the economic dimension of seeking care when needed is not a consideration that would encourage delaying or forgoing care. Change is possible. Equitable health protection requires inclusive legislation, financial protection, and the employment of sufficient numbers of skilled health workers. It also requires a broader policy framework that addresses gender inequities both within and beyond the health sector, such as in social, economic, and labour market policies.

The ILO strategy towards universal access to health care addresses the gaps in coverage and financial barriers to access through the development of efficient and effective social health protection systems. This aims to ensure that persons in need will not face hardship and an increased risk of poverty due to the financial consequences of accessing essential health care. The ILO strategy is founded on the human rights to health and social security, and emphasizes the significance of social health protection for decent work and social justice.

Since its creation in 1919, the ILO has actively promoted policies and provided assistance to countries to supply adequate levels of social protection to all members of society guided by international social security standards adopted by its tripartite constituents, in particular its flagship Convention concerning Minimum standards of social security, 1952 (No. 102) and the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202).

As an intern, you will be exposed to a whole range of areas related to social health protection, and in particular: the rights to health and social security within human rights and international labour standards, the extension of health coverage to the informal economy, health financing within social protection systems, and the role of social protection systems, including floors, for achieving health outcomes.

You would be gaining experience in working with specialists who are involved in the conception and implementation of technical cooperation projects and the development of research and tools on social health protection in headquarters and in the field.

As an intern, you will be exposed to a whole range of areas related to social health protection, and in particular: the rights to health and social security within human rights and international labour standards, the extension of health coverage to the informal economy, health financing within social protection systems, and the role of social protection systems, including floors, for achieving health outcomes.

You would be gaining experience in working with specialists who are involved in the conception and implementation of technical cooperation projects and the development of research and tools on social health protection in headquarters and in the field.

Main tasks will include:

• Data collection and analysis;
• Background research and draft of research material and tools;
• Support to project components formulation and implementation;
• Support the coordination of joint work items on social health protection between specialists located in different duty stations;
• Any other task assigned by the supervisor in support to the team working on social health protection.

Interns should expect to devote 10% to 20% of their time to administrative tasks.

Education

The candidate must be enrolled at least in a Master's degree programme or must have completed such a programme no longer than 1 year ago in relevant subject areas, such as social policy or health policies, health economics, public health, social protection, development, or other relevant social science discipline, specialization directly related to health and social protection a plus.

Experience

Experience with research work (Master’s thesis, research assistant job) and familiarity with research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis) and relevant IT software (including Excel) would be an advantage; experience working with developing countries on health access and financing issues a plus.

Languages

Working knowledge (both oral and written) of English and the other ILO’s official languages (French, Spanish) or other languages are a plus.

Competencies

Applicants should be able to adapt to an international, multicultural and multilingual environment, have good communication skills, and be able to work in teams.

Additional information

We encourage persons with disabilities to apply.

How to apply:

1. Search for an internship profile via the page on ILO Jobs

2. Select the internship profile you would like to apply for, and create a profile on ILO Jobs

3. Complete your candidate profile and apply to the internship profile

4. Be sure to attach a cover letter in the last section of the application, as applications without a cover letter will not be considered and you cannot attach a cover letter after the deadline.

Selection process:

Following a first screening by the Human Resources Development Department (HRD), hiring departments will short-list applicants. You will be directly contacted should an internship opportunity match your profile. If you have not been contacted by any department within six months after your application, you can consider that you have not been selected by any department for this roster. If still eligible, you may apply to the next roster.

If shortlisted, you may be contacted by the hiring department for a written test and/or interview. The ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Stipend/Financial compensations:

As an intern in Geneva, you will receive a stipend of 2450 CHF per month from the ILO, unless you receive funding through another institution (for example your university or a foundation). If you receive partial funding, ILO will cover the difference to ensure you receive 2450 CHF per month. Your travel to Geneva will be at your own expense. In addition to the amounts referred above, each intern shall receive the amount of CHF45 per month, or the equivalent amount in the currency in which the monthly stipend is paid, which is a contribution from the Office towards the cost of medical insurance to cover the period of the internship.

Qualified candidates from non- and under- represented countries may be eligible for a special fund that provides financial assistance for round-trip airfare (economy class) in addition to the stipend.

Insurance:

Please note that the ILO does not take responsibility for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship. You will be responsible for your own insurance coverage for illness and accidents for the duration of the internship at the duty station (whether Geneva or the field).

Fraud warning:

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account E-Mail schreiben - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.