Global Health Jobs: Careers with WHO, UNICEF, MSF and International NGOs

Global Health Jobs: Careers with WHO, UNICEF, MSF and International NGOs

Global health is one of the largest and most diverse areas of international development employment. From frontline clinical roles in humanitarian emergencies to policy advisors shaping pandemic preparedness frameworks at WHO headquarters, the field spans an extraordinary range of functions and contexts. This guide maps the landscape and explains how to navigate it.

The Global Health System: Who's Involved

UN Agencies

• WHO: the global health authority; sets standards, coordinates outbreak responses, and supports health system strengthening in member states
• UNICEF: focuses on child and maternal health, nutrition, immunisation, and WASH
• UNFPA: sexual and reproductive health and rights
• UNAIDS: HIV/AIDS policy, advocacy, and coordination
• WFP: nutrition and school feeding programmes

International NGOs

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): the largest independent medical humanitarian organisation; primarily focuses on emergency medical response in conflict and crisis settings
• International Medical Corps (IMC)
• Merlin (now merged with Save the Children)
• Partners in Health (PIH): long-term health system strengthening in fragile contexts
• Population Services International (PSI): reproductive health, malaria, HIV

Bilateral and Multilateral Programmes

• USAID/GH (Global Health Bureau): the largest single funder of global health programmes
• PEPFAR: US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — one of the largest health funding programmes in history
• The Global Fund: HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria
• Gavi: the Vaccine Alliance
• FCDO and BMZ (Germany): major bilateral health funders

Types of Roles Available

Clinical and Medical

• Medical doctors (particularly emergency, tropical medicine, surgery) — primarily with MSF, IMC, and other emergency medical NGOs
• Nurses and midwives — field-deployable clinical roles with humanitarian NGOs
• Epidemiologists — outbreak response (WHO, CDC, MSF), disease surveillance, field epidemiology

Programme and Technical

• Health programme managers — overseeing health systems strengthening or specific disease programmes
• Maternal and child health specialists
• Health financing and UHC (Universal Health Coverage) specialists
• Pharmaceutical and supply chain specialists (vaccine cold chains, essential medicines)
• Nutrition specialists (acute malnutrition, infant and young child feeding)

Policy and Research

• Health policy advisors — embedded in ministries or donor missions
• Health economists — cost-effectiveness analysis, health financing reform
• Research officers and study coordinators — clinical trials, operational research

Support Functions

• MEL officers with health sector expertise
• Grants and contracts managers for health programmes
• Health information systems (HIS) specialists — DHIS2, OpenMRS

Qualifications and Entry Points

Clinical roles require the relevant medical or nursing qualification. For non-clinical roles, a master's degree in global health, public health (MPH), health policy, or epidemiology is the standard minimum for professional positions.

Entry-level pathways include:

• Global health internships at WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS
• Research assistant and coordinator positions (often post-bachelor's)
• USAID/PEPFAR implementing partner junior positions
• MSF non-medical roles (logistician, water and sanitation, admin) for those without clinical qualifications

Salary Benchmarks

• Entry-level programme officer (NGO): $35,000–$55,000
• Health specialist/manager (UN P3): $90,000–$115,000 equivalent
• Senior health advisor (bilateral or UN): $120,000–$160,000+
• Clinical roles (MSF): varies by role and mission context; typically includes accommodation and per diem

Find Global Health Jobs on DevProcure

DevProcure aggregates health sector opportunities from WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID implementing partners, MSF, IRC, and 200+ other sources. Filter by sector to find global health roles alongside procurement and grant opportunities in the health sector.