WHO Faces Major Workforce Reduction Following United States Financial Withdrawal
The international health agency has announced plans to cut its staff by almost a quarter â totaling more than 2,000 jobs â before mid-2026.
Funding Crisis Prompts Substantial Restructuring
The decision follows after the United States, previously the agency's largest donor, pulled out funding earlier this period.
Washington was responsible for approximately 18% of the organization's total budget, causing a substantial financial shortfall.
Expected Staff Reductions
Based on organizational estimates, the workforce is expected to drop from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in January 2025 to around seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026.
This reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one posts comprises job cuts, employees retiring, and natural attrition.
"The past year has been one of the toughest in our history, while we undertook a challenging but essential journey of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's leader.
Budget Shortfall Remains
The Switzerland-headquartered organization now confronts a funding gap of $1.06bn for the 2026-2027 biennium, representing nearly a quarter of its required budget.
The amount marks an improvement from a previous estimated gap of 1.7 billion dollars reported in May.
Not Included Finances
These budget calculations do not include an additional 1.1 billion dollars in expected funding from ongoing negotiations with multiple contributors.
The representative for the agency stated that the present unsecured portion of the budget is in fact smaller than in earlier years, attributing this to several reasons:
- A smaller total budget size
- The launch of a new fundraising effort
- Higher in member states' required fees
The realignment initiative is currently nearing its end, paving the way for the agency to progress with a renewed structure.
