WHO Confronts Significant Staff Reduction Following US Funding Withdrawal
The global public health organization disclosed intentions to cut its workforce by almost a fourth – amounting to over 2,000 jobs – by mid-2026.
Funding Shortfall Prompts Substantial Restructuring
The move follows following the United States, previously the organization's biggest donor, withdrew funding previously this year.
The US government had been responsible for approximately 18% of the agency's overall budget, creating a significant budgetary shortfall.
Expected Staff Cuts
Based on organizational projections, the staff is expected to drop from 9,401 posts in January 2025 to approximately 7,030 by June 2026.
This decrease of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one posts includes staff reductions, employees retiring, and natural attrition.
"This year has been one of the toughest in our existence, while we undertook a painful but necessary process of prioritization and restructuring," commented the agency's director-general.
Budget Gap Persists
This Geneva-based body now confronts a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming period, representing almost a fourth of its required funding.
The amount marks an improvement from a previous projected gap of $1.7bn reported in spring.
Not Included Funding
These budget calculations exclude an additional $1.1bn in potential funding from current negotiations with various contributors.
The representative for the agency stated that the present unsecured portion of the biennial budget is in fact smaller than in previous years, crediting this to several reasons:
- Reduced overall budget size
- The launch of a new donor outreach effort
- An increase in participating countries' mandatory fees
This restructuring initiative is currently nearing its completion, paving the way for the agency to move forward with a renewed operational model.
