Job Description

ABOUT US

The WHO Foundation (WHOF), launched in May 2020 and headquartered in Geneva, was created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO. Its mission is to mobilize greater private capital and partnership to advance the mission of the World Health Organization (WHO), enabling catalytic impact on the people whose lives rely on WHO's work and facilitating innovation to maximize the impact of the resources we invest.


WHO plays a singular role in leading the global health ecosystem, acting as a first-responder to health crises -- including the current conflict in Ukraine and on behalf of the 15+ million people in urgent need of aid in Horn of Africa; producing technical guidelines and tools to prevent and treat disease; and acting as a country-level convener with an unparalleled level of trust. The crises of the 21st century, including COVID-19, have made clear both the inequity of access to effective and affordable healthcare and the indispensable role of WHO. Yet WHO lacks sufficient resources to fulfill its mandate. And, beyond funding, its vision cannot be achieved by the public sector alone.


The WHO Foundation was therefore created as an independent Swiss foundation affiliated with but independent of WHO to marshal new resources from philanthropists, foundations, businesses, and individuals to support its mission: promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable, while protecting the neutrality and independence of WHO as the world's leading health authority. WHOF is a nexus for unique opportunities in global health, facilitating game-changing opportunities between the private sector and WHO. Our focus is on mobilizing grant income, shared value partnerships, and investment to power WHO's work.

CONTEXT

Global events and high-level convenings play a vital role in positioning the WHO Foundation, forging and showcasing partnerships, and amplifying WHO's strategic programs. The Foundation engages in major tentpole moments including the World Economic Forum in Davos, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), World Health Summit (WHS), World Health Assembly (WHA), COP, and other key market-specific and partner-led events.

PURPOSE

The intern will work directly with the Events Manager to support the planning, coordination, and execution of the WHO Foundation's global events portfolio. This is a hands-on role offering exposure to high-level convenings, international stakeholders, and strategic donor engagement. The role is designed with a mentorship component, providing structured learning on systems, tools, and best practices developed by the Events Manager.

ACCOUNTABILITIES & FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Event Coordination Support

Assist with the logistics and coordination of global events, including Davos, UNGA, WHS, WHA, COP, and others. Help maintain event planning timelines, task trackers, registration dashboards, and guest lists. Support preparation of briefing notes, run-of-shows, invitations, and event collateral. Support travel, accommodation and venue coordination, catering, technical setup, speaker logistics, and production agencies. Assist with seating charts, signage, badges, RSVPs, and follow-up communications.

Document & Content Preparation

Prepare and update briefing documents, run-of-shows, PowerPoint decks, and session scripts. Assist in curating live documents and presentation assets used during events. Ensure accuracy and alignment of branding and formatting across all materials. Support development of post-event reports, data capture, and analysis to assess impact and engagement.

Administrative and Project Management

Provide general administrative support to the Events Manager, including scheduling meetings, note-taking, and follow-ups. Assist with vendor and partner coordination (e.g., event agencies, venues, suppliers). Help manage project documentation and ensure information is updated in shared systems (e.g., SharePoint, project dashboards).

Communications and Branding Support

Collaborate with the Communications team to support content creation (e.g., talking points, slide decks, visual assets). Coordinate with the Communications team to ensure partner branding is accurately represented. Help prepare post-event content and documentation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the internship, the intern will have:

Worked directly with the Events Manager to learn project management tools and methodology (especially PRINCE2). Gained hands-on experience in high-level event planning and stakeholder engagement. Developed skills in project management, logistics coordination, and cross-team communication. Enhanced knowledge of the global health ecosystem and international development landscape. Built experience in working within a mission-driven, fast-paced international organization.

PROFILE

Currently enrolled in or recently completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in international relations, public health, communications, business, event management, or related field. Demonstrated interest in global health, international development, or strategic events. Strong organizational skills with attention to detail. Clear communicator, proactive, and eager to learn. Fluency in English required; French is a plus. Experience with

Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive)

; familiarity with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom, Slack, Canva and Monday.com) is an asset. * Ability to multitask and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.