WHO Confronts Significant Workforce Cuts Following United States Funding Withdrawal
The global health agency revealed intentions to reduce its workforce by almost a fourth – totaling over 2,000 positions – before mid-2026.
Funding Crisis Prompts Major Restructuring
The move follows following the US, previously the organization's largest donor, pulled out financial support earlier this year.
Washington had been contributing approximately 18% of the agency's overall funding, causing a significant financial gap.
Projected Staff Cuts
Based on internal projections, the staff will decrease from 9,401 positions in early 2025 to approximately seven thousand and thirty by June 2026.
The reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions comprises job cuts, retirements, and regular departures.
"The past year was among the toughest in our history, as we undertook a painful but essential process of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's leader.
Budget Gap Persists
This Geneva-based body currently faces a funding shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming period, amounting to nearly a quarter of its total budget.
This amount represents an improvement from a previous estimated gap of $1.7bn noted in spring.
Excluded Finances
These financial projections do not include an additional 1.1 billion dollars in potential contributions from ongoing discussions with various donors.
A representative for the organization noted that the current unfunded portion of the biennial budget is in fact lower than in previous periods, crediting this to several reasons:
- A smaller total budget size
- Initiation of a new fundraising campaign
- An increase in participating countries' mandatory contributions
The realignment process is currently nearing its completion, allowing the organization to move forward with a renewed structure.
