WHO Faces Major Staff Reduction Following United States Funding Withdrawal
The international public health agency has announced intentions to reduce its workforce by almost a fourth – amounting to over 2,000 positions – before the middle of 2026.
Funding Shortfall Triggers Major Reorganization
This decision follows after the United States, previously the agency's largest contributor, withdrew funding previously this period.
Washington was responsible for approximately 18% of the organization's overall funding, creating a substantial budgetary gap.
Projected Staff Reductions
Based on internal estimates, the staff is expected to drop from 9,401 posts in January 2025 to approximately 7,030 by mid-2026.
The decrease of 2,371 positions includes staff reductions, retirements, and regular attrition.
"The past year was one of the most difficult in our existence, while we undertook a challenging but necessary process of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's director-general.
Financial Shortfall Persists
This Geneva-based body now faces a budget gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 biennium, representing almost a quarter of its total budget.
This amount marks an reduction from a prior estimated shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars noted in spring.
Excluded Funding
The budget calculations do not include a further $1.1bn in expected contributions from ongoing discussions with various contributors.
The spokesperson for the organization noted that the current unfunded part of the budget is actually smaller than in earlier years, crediting this to several reasons:
- Reduced total budget
- Initiation of a fresh fundraising campaign
- Higher in member states' required contributions
This realignment initiative is currently approaching its completion, paving the way for the agency to move forward with a renewed structure.