The WHO Fellowship Programme provides opportunities through group or individual training for:
Training and study in health matters which may not be available in the candidate’s own country (such training will be provided abroad or through distance learning);
International exchange of scientific knowledge and transfer of technology;
Specialized training in the candidate’s own country where suitable facilities exist.
WHO fellows may be enrolled in regular or specially designed training programmes or courses.
Regular courses are organized by institutes in relevant subjects. Courses vary in length and can be awarded as degree or non-degree programmes.
Specially designed training is granted to qualified individuals and groups who fulfil certain educational criteria. It can be a structured training programme or a study visit.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the programme, you must:
be a national of a country in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region;
be a government employee and have completed at least two years of service;
be at least 5 years younger than the mandatory retirement age of your country;
be fluent in the language of study and able to provide relevant certification of your language skills.
Selection and application procedures
Fellows are nominated by their government.
The following outlines procedures in the selection and application process:
The fields of study for a fellowship are justified within the context of national needs and priorities to address national human resource requirements.
Successful candidates are selected by a committee comprising members of the ministry of health and WHO country office.
The fellow is placed in a suitable programme, in accordance with the learning objectives of the Fellowship programme.
Once a selected candidate undertakes their fellowship, they must conform to the rules governing the award of their fellowship award and receive entitlements as per the WHO fellowship programme.
Fellow’s obligations
WHO fellows are required to:
- Conduct themselves at all times in a manner compatible with their status as holders of international fellowships and as representatives of their country.
- Submit a “Termination of Studies Report” to the WHO Regional Office within one month of the end of their fellowship. They are also required to submit termly and progress reports for fellowships of more than one year.
- Return to their home country and continue in, or place their services at the disposal of, a national health administration for specified minimum periods in relation to the duration of the fellowship as follows:
One year of service, for fellowships of less than six months.
Two years of service, for fellowships of six month to two years.
Three years of service, for fellowships of more than two years.
