WHO Faces Major Workforce Reduction After US Financial Withdrawal
This international health organization disclosed plans to reduce its staff by nearly a fourth – amounting to over 2,000 positions – by mid-2026.
Financial Crisis Triggers Substantial Reorganization
The decision comes after the US, formerly the organization's biggest contributor, withdrew financial support earlier this period.
The US government had been responsible for about 18% of the agency's total funding, causing a significant financial shortfall.
Expected Workforce Cuts
Based on internal projections, the staff is expected to drop from 9,401 positions in January 2025 to around 7,030 by mid-2026.
The decrease of 2,371 posts includes job cuts, employees retiring, and regular departures.
"The past year was among the most difficult in WHO's existence, while we undertook a challenging but necessary process of prioritisation and realignment," stated the organization's leader.
Budget Shortfall Persists
This Geneva-based organization currently confronts a funding shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming biennium, representing nearly a fourth of its total budget.
The amount represents an reduction from a previous projected gap of $1.7bn noted in May.
Excluded Funding
These budget projections do not include a further $1.1bn in potential funding from current discussions with multiple contributors.
A representative for the organization stated that the present unfunded portion of the biennial budget is in fact lower than in previous periods, attributing this to multiple reasons:
- Reduced overall budget
- Initiation of a fresh fundraising effort
- Higher in participating countries' mandatory fees
The restructuring initiative is currently nearing its completion, paving the way for the organization to progress with a renewed structure.
