WHO Confronts Significant Staff Cuts Following US Funding Withdrawal
The international public health agency disclosed intentions to reduce its staff by almost a quarter – totaling over two thousand positions – by mid-2026.
Financial Shortfall Triggers Major Reorganization
This move follows following the United States, previously the agency's biggest donor, pulled out financial support earlier this period.
The US government was contributing approximately 18% of the organization's total funding, creating a substantial budgetary gap.
Projected Workforce Cuts
Based on internal estimates, the workforce is expected to drop from 9,401 positions in early 2025 to approximately 7,030 by mid-2026.
The reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions includes job cuts, employees retiring, and regular attrition.
"The past year has been among the most difficult in our existence, as we have navigated a painful but necessary process of prioritization and realignment," commented the agency's leader.
Financial Shortfall Persists
The Switzerland-headquartered body now confronts a funding gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 period, representing nearly a quarter of its required funding.
This figure marks an reduction from a previous estimated shortfall of $1.7bn noted in spring.
Excluded Finances
The budget projections exclude an additional 1.1 billion dollars in expected funding from ongoing discussions with various donors.
The representative for the agency stated that the present unsecured part of the biennial budget is actually lower than in previous periods, crediting this to several reasons:
- Reduced total budget size
- Initiation of a fresh fundraising campaign
- An increase in participating countries' required fees
This realignment process is currently nearing its end, paving the way for the organization to move forward with a reshaped structure.
