WHO Faces Major Staff Cuts After US Funding Withdrawal
This global public health agency has announced plans to reduce its staff by almost a quarter – totaling over 2,000 positions – before mid-2026.
Financial Crisis Triggers Substantial Restructuring
This move comes after the United States, formerly the agency's biggest contributor, withdrew funding previously this year.
The US government had been contributing approximately 18% of the organization's overall budget, creating a substantial budgetary gap.
Projected Staff Reductions
Based on internal projections, the workforce will decrease from 9,401 posts in January 2025 to around seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026.
The reduction of 2,371 posts comprises job cuts, employees retiring, and regular attrition.
"This year has been one of the toughest in our existence, as we undertook a challenging but necessary process of prioritisation and restructuring," commented the organization's leader.
Financial Gap Remains
This Switzerland-headquartered body now confronts a budget gap of $1.06bn for the upcoming period, representing almost a fourth of its required funding.
This figure marks an reduction from a previous estimated shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars noted in May.
Not Included Finances
The financial calculations do not include an additional 1.1 billion dollars in potential funding from ongoing discussions with multiple contributors.
A spokesperson for the agency noted that the current unfunded part of the budget is actually lower than in previous periods, crediting this to multiple factors:
- Reduced overall budget size
- Initiation of a new fundraising campaign
- Higher in member states' mandatory fees
The restructuring process is currently approaching its completion, allowing the agency to progress with a reshaped structure.
