In response to the most pressing global health challenges, Empower School of Health and UNITAR have built a joint portfolio of events on health careers, alongside Empower's specialised educational programmes covering the most pressing and in-demand specialised topics such as Digital Health, Pharmaceutical Management, Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management, and Data Management, which have already enabled hundreds of professionals around the world to lead change in their healthcare systems.

Accredited under ASIC, the programmes hold FIBAA Digital Seal for Excellence in Digital Education, and ASIC accreditation, ensuring the highest quality standards and global relevance.

Our joint portfolio

Under the UNITAR–Empower partnership, the following programmes are offered:

• Youth Career Accelerator in Health (YCAH) — Five-day workshop in Geneva for students and early-career professionals exploring careers in global health

• Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Health

• Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Management

• Master Of Science In Global Health Procurement And Supply Chain Management

• Master Of Science In Pharmaceutical Management with Specialization in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 

• Online Postgraduate Diploma In Global Health Procurement And Supply Chain Management

• Postgraduate Diploma in Data Management in Public Health Procurement & Supply Chain

daniel.nazarov@unitar.org

luca.wunderlich@unitar.org

The Youth Career Accelerator in Health (YCAH) is a flagship immersive workshop delivered in partnership between UNITAR and Empower School of Health, designed for students and early-career professionals who are exploring, entering, or building a career in global health. Delivered over five days at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, and supported by online sessions before and after, YCAH takes participants inside the institutions, ideas and networks that shape health decisions from the international level at the health of global health governance: Geneva

UNITAR and Empower School of Health host activities in the historic Palace of Nations and across the wider Geneva ecosystem. The programme combines the following elements:

• Expert-led sessions with senior leaders from the UN system, industry, clinical practice, academia and humanitarian action.
• Career-development workshops and structured reflection exercises
• Direct exchanges with career role models across the full breadth of the health sector
• A five-year career plan developed by each participant
• Peer learning within a diverse international cohort
• Pre- & Post-workshop mentoring

The purpose is to equip participants with a clearer understanding of how global health careers are built across policy, research, humanitarian action, clinical practice, innovation and industry, and to open the doors of International Geneva to a new generation of professionals in the sector.

YCAH welcomes students and early-career professionals from anywhere in the world with an interest in global health. Participants can come from medicine, public health, pharmacy, biotech, life sciences, health policy, or related disciplines. University students, early-career professionals, and those from adjacent fields interested in transitioning into global health are equally welcome to apply.

To ensure the highest quality of experience and interaction, a limited number of participants is admitted each edition. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and confirmed on payment. At the end of the programme, participants receive a joint UNITAR and Empower School of Health certificate of completion.

The programme is committed to diversity and aims for at least 50% women participation.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Health is a 12-month course offered in English which prepares individuals for the emerging world of Digital Health, providing you with numerous growth opportunities in international NGOs, Ministries of Health, UN agencies, and donors' programs. Through this comprehensive educational experience, you will play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare capacity building and ensuring that the benefits of Digital Health are realised in your community. 

Upon completion of the program, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive digital health initiatives in their respective fields. The course not only fosters a deep understanding of the technological aspects but also addresses the ethical, regulatory, and policy dimensions critical for successful digital health integration.

Candidates are required:

• To be able to operate confidently in both written and spoken English.
• To be able to commit at least 25 hours per week for 11 months.
• To have completed, at a minimum a bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• Prior work experience is preferred, though not necessary.

For more information and to register, click here.

In response to the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape, characterized by stringent regulations, advancing technologies, and shifting market dynamics, there exists a critical need for professionals equipped with specialized knowledge and skills in pharmaceutical management. UNITAR and Empower School of Health’s Postgraduate Diploma addresses this need by providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of industry intricacies, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and effective communication tailored to the pharmaceutical context. The programme is certified by the International Pharmaceutical Federation and is designed to be affordable and accessible, catering especially to the needs of low-income countries. 

Learning Objectives

• Understand and apply principles of pharmaceutical management, including strategic analysis, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop effective communication, marketing, and human resource strategies tailored to the pharmaceutical industry
• Master research methodologies, critical analysis, and project execution in pharmacy practice
• Navigate drug regulations, health supply chain challenges, and pharmacoinformatics techniques for optimizing pharmaceutical operations;
• Evaluate the impact of medicine policy and financing mechanisms on access to medicines and healthcare delivery.
• Execute research projects and communicate findings through written reports effectively

Enrolment

For more information and to enrol, please click here

Over the last ten years, there have been massive changes in the field of public health. The funding levels available for various diseases have also increased. The net result has been the emergence of a much greater need for specific skill sets in areas such as Global Health, Procurement and Supply Chain Management (PSM), Leadership Management, and many other spheres, which are critical to operating effectively from a global perspective. Healthcare programs typically spend between 40 – 50% of the overall budget on public health commodities. Therefore efficient management of the health commodities that are being distributed is of paramount importance.

There is limited availability (largely due to affordability) for professional skill development programs which address the needs of the public sector. Therefore, Empower School of Health and UNITAR provide a strong link between Public Health, Healthcare Management, and Procurement and Supply Management (PSM) addressing all the needed skill sets whilst still being affordable for low-income countries.

UNITAR and Empower’s Master of Science in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management is being offered to students in 2 ways:

1. 24-month online programme – to all students who fulfil the required criteria

• Click here to register for the 24 month Masters in English
• Click here to register for the 24 month  Masters in French

2. 12-month online programme – to students who have completed the Post Graduate Diploma in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management from Empower School of Health.The course prepares the participants for the world of procurement and the supply chain of healthcare products. Students get growth opportunities, internships in Ministries of Health, UN agencies, donor programs and international NGOs.

• Click here to register for the 12 month programme in English
• Click here to register for the 12 month programme in French  

The Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Management with Specialization in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is a 24-month online postgraduate programme comprising 24 modules delivered over two academic years. The programme provides comprehensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry landscape, strategic management, pharmaceutical marketing, medicines regulation, pharmacoinformatics, medicine financing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. 

The course also covers pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, novel drug delivery systems, sterile and aseptic manufacturing, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality assurance, validation, regulatory submissions, and plant operations, building the expertise required to address the evolving needs of the global pharmaceutical industry.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management (PSM) is a 12-month online programme, specially designed by Empower School of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). This is a 12-month self-paced course and has 8 modules covering all key topics. For the last two months, the candidate has worked on a ‘problem-solution’ focused research project that is related to their organization or country.

On completion of this course, the student will be awarded a joint diploma certificate from Empower School of Health and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research

The course is targeted at health professionals in public health programs (donors, government, NGOs, civil society, academia) and people interested in becoming supply chain/logistics professionals.

Candidates are required:

• To be able to operate confidently in both the written and spoken English language.
• To be able to commit at least 25 hours per week for 11 months.
• To have completed, at a minimum a bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• Prior work experience is preferred, though not necessary.

For more information and to register (in English), click here.

For more information and to register (in French), click here.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Data Management in Public Health Procurement & Supply Chain is a 12-month comprehensive and specialized programme designed to equip professionals with the essential skills to navigate the evolving landscape of data management in public health procurement and supply chain management. 

The course is meticulously crafted with an array of modules to provide a holistic understanding of the subject matter. This programme stands out through its thorough design, crafted with the valuable input and collaboration of various active industry experts and partners such as MTaPS, Chemonics, VillageReach etc.

Candidates are required to:

• To be able to operate confidently in both written and spoken English language.
• To be able to commit at least 25 hours per week for 11 months.
• To have completed, at minimum a bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• Prior work experience is preferred, though not necessary.

For more information and to register, click here

UNITAR and Empower School of Health offer, every month, interactive one-hour webinars on a variety of topics such as Data Management in Health Procurement and Supply Chain, Creating Green, Sustainable Supply Chains in a Circular Economy,  Achieving SDG3: Strengthening National and Local Capacity to ensure healthy lives, Public Sector Leadership: Strengthening Post-Crisis Supply Chain Resilience,  among others. No matter where your taste lies, there is a topic for you. With industry-leading experts, you are sure to have an insightful experience.

Here are some of our previous webinars:

1. Career Webinar Series: Plan your International Career in the Health Sector: Geneva as the Center of Global Health (23 July 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
2. Career Webinar Series: Plan your International Career in the Health Sector: How Young Professionals Should Build Their Careers in the Health Sector (9 July 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
3. Career Webinar Series: Plan your International Career in the Health Sector: Networking & Career Growth in the Health Sector - Beyond Degrees and Certifications (25 June 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
4. Career Webinar Series: Plan your International Career in the Health Sector: Education, Internships and Employment in Public and Private Sector (11 June 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
5. Career Webinar Series: Plan your International Career in the Health Sector: Options and Opportunities (28 May 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
6. Designing World Class Public Health Supply Chains: Uganda National Medical Stores' Path to becoming a Regional Centre of Excellence (30 April 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
7. From Data to Decisions: Building Skills for Better Healthcare and Supply Chains (26 March 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
8. Digital Tools for Community Health Outreach in collaboration with Doctors on Ground (26 February, 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
9. From Molecules to Markets: The Global Pharmaceutical Industry and Careers in Pharmaceutical Management (29 January, 2026). To watch the recording, click here.
10. Pharma: How Regional Collaborations in Asia are Changing the Industry (June 26, 2025). To watch the recording, click here.
11. How Digital Technology is Changing Healthcare in Asia (May 22, 2025). To watch the recording, click here.
12. Strengthening the Supply Chain Management of Health Products (May 8, 2025). To watch the recording, click here.
13. Digital Health Transformation in Asia - UNITAR and Empower School of Health (March 27, 2025). To watch the recording, click here.
14. Resilient Supply Chains: Lessons from Global Crises for Public Health Systems - UNITAR and Empower School of Health (March 12, 2025). To watch the recording, click here.  
15. Effective Strategies for Pharmaceutical Management - UNITAR and Empower School of Health (February 27, 2025). To watch the recording, click here.

To stay informed on upcoming webinars, follow UNITAR and Empower School of Health on social media.

Empower is a capacity-building organization that has worked across 100+ countries in multiple languages to strengthen the institutional and HR capacity of global health & humanitarian programs through online courses and face-to-face training. Visit the Empower website to learn more.