World Health Organization Faces Major Staff Cuts After US Funding Withdrawal
The international health agency disclosed intentions to cut its staff by almost a quarter – totaling over 2,000 jobs – by the middle of 2026.
Funding Shortfall Triggers Major Reorganization
This move comes following the US, previously the organization's largest donor, pulled out funding earlier this period.
The US government had been contributing about eighteen percent of the organization's total funding, creating a substantial budgetary gap.
Projected Workforce Reductions
Based on internal estimates, the workforce will decrease from 9,401 positions in early 2025 to approximately 7,030 by June 2026.
The decrease of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one posts includes staff reductions, employees retiring, and natural attrition.
"This year was one of the most difficult in WHO's history, while we have navigated a challenging but necessary journey of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's director-general.
Budget Shortfall Remains
The Switzerland-headquartered body currently faces a funding gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming biennium, amounting to almost a fourth of its required funding.
This figure marks an improvement from a previous estimated gap of 1.7 billion dollars noted in May.
Not Included Funding
The budget calculations exclude a further $1.1bn in potential funding from current discussions with multiple donors.
The spokesperson for the agency noted that the present unfunded part of the budget is in fact lower than in earlier years, attributing this to several factors:
- Reduced total budget size
- Initiation of a fresh donor outreach effort
- An increase in member states' mandatory contributions
This restructuring initiative is currently approaching its completion, paving the way for the organization to progress with a renewed operational model.
