The WHO Fellowships Programme develops the capacity of health professionals and scientists in the Western Pacific Region by providing opportunities for technical training and international knowledge exchange. The programme supports both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as short-term and long-term training programmes.
The programme is designed to help Member States strengthen their health workforce and prepare health staff to take on leadership roles within their national health services.
What the WHO Fellowships Programme Offers
According to WHO, fellowships can provide candidates with technical knowledge and skills that may not be available in their home countries.
The programme also aims to:
- Strengthen health workforce capacity
- Improve technical and professional skills
- Encourage international exchange of medical and scientific knowledge
- Promote cooperation between scientific and professional groups
- Improve teaching and training standards in health and related professions
- Support national health systems
Training may take place abroad or through distance learning in the candidate’s own country when appropriate facilities are available.
How the Fellowship Programme Works
The WHO Fellowships Programme operates through four main stages.
1. Planning Stage
WHO Representatives and the relevant national health administration identify fellowship opportunities that align with national health plans and address specific human-resource gaps.
2. Selection Stage
Fellowships lasting three months or longer are advertised. Candidates submit applications online, after which applications are forwarded to the WHO Regional Office for processing.
3. Operational Stage
Selected candidates undertake their approved fellowship. Fellows receive the applicable entitlements and responsibilities throughout the programme.
Participants are also required to submit academic and progress reports.
4. Follow-Up Stage
After completing the fellowship, fellows must submit final reports. According to WHO, fellows are then required to serve within the national health administrations of their countries.
Study Tours
The programme also includes study tours, which are a form of fellowship designed for groups of health workers or scientists.
Participants may visit one or more countries to examine local health challenges, learn about approaches used to address them and establish international professional collaborations.
Study tours may also be organized as customized short-term training programmes.
Eligibility for Study Tours
According to the information provided by WHO, candidates must:
- Be health workers or scientists
- Be in good health
- Be nominated by their national health administrations
- Typically be no more than 55 years old
Selected participants must follow the authorized itinerary and submit a final report describing their findings and experiences.
Host Institutions
WHO maintains a database of institutions where fellows can be placed, although applicants may also consider other credible institutions that meet WHO standards.
The source lists recent host institutions including:
Fiji
- Fiji National University
- University of Fiji
Japan
- Sapporo Medical University
New Zealand
- Massey University
- University of Otago
Papua New Guinea
- University of Papua New Guinea
Samoa
- National University of Samoa
- National University of Samoa / Pacific Islands Orthopedic Association
Who Can Apply?
The programme information provided by WHO indicates that fellowship opportunities are intended for health staff from WHO Member States, while study tours specifically target health workers and scientists nominated by their national health administrations.
The source does not provide a single general eligibility list for every fellowship opportunity. Requirements can therefore depend on the specific fellowship, duration, national health priorities, and nomination process.
Is the Fellowship Fully Funded?
The provided WHO source states that selected fellows receive entitlements during the operational stage, but it does not provide a detailed list of the financial benefits or state a specific monetary amount.
Therefore, the available information supports describing the programme as providing fellowship support, but does not provide enough information to claim that every WHO fellowship is fully funded or to specify particular allowances.
Applicants should check the relevant fellowship announcement and national health administration for the exact benefits and conditions.
How to Apply
For fellowships lasting three months or more, WHO states that candidates submit applications online when the fellowship is advertised. Applications are then forwarded to the Regional Office for processing.
Because the programme is implemented jointly with national health administrations, prospective applicants should also follow the nomination and application procedures applicable in their country.
WHO Fellowships contact: wprocal@who.int
Final Thoughts
The WHO Fellowships Programme provides an important pathway for health workers and scientists to gain specialized technical knowledge, participate in international training and strengthen professional networks. The programme covers different forms of training, including undergraduate and postgraduate education, short-term and long-term programmes, distance learning and study tours.
Interested health professionals should carefully review individual fellowship announcements and their national health administration’s requirements before applying.
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