This global public health agency has announced intentions to reduce its workforce by nearly a quarter – amounting to more than 2,000 positions – before the middle of 2026.
Funding Shortfall Prompts Substantial Restructuring
This decision follows after the US, previously the agency's largest donor, withdrew funding previously this year.
Washington had been contributing approximately eighteen percent of the agency's overall funding, causing a substantial budgetary gap.
Projected Workforce Reductions
Based on internal estimates, the staff is expected to drop from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in early 2025 to around 7,030 by mid-2026.
This reduction of 2,371 positions includes staff reductions, employees retiring, and natural attrition.
"The past year was among the toughest in WHO's history, as we undertook a challenging but necessary process of prioritization and realignment," stated the organization's leader.
Budget Shortfall Persists
The Switzerland-headquartered body now faces a funding gap of $1.06bn for the 2026-2027 biennium, amounting to nearly a quarter of its total budget.
This amount represents an improvement from a prior estimated shortfall of $1.7bn noted in May.
Excluded Finances
The financial calculations exclude an additional $1.1bn in potential funding from ongoing discussions with multiple donors.
A representative for the organization stated that the present unsecured part of the biennial budget is actually smaller than in earlier periods, attributing this to multiple reasons:
- A smaller total budget
- Initiation of a new donor outreach effort
- An increase in member states' mandatory contributions
The restructuring process is now approaching its completion, allowing the organization to progress with a reshaped operational model.
