WHO Faces Major Workforce Reduction Following US Funding Withdrawal
This global public health agency disclosed intentions to reduce its staff by nearly a fourth – totaling over 2,000 jobs – before the middle of 2026.
Funding Shortfall Prompts Major Restructuring
This move follows following the United States, formerly the agency's largest contributor, withdrew funding previously this year.
Washington had been responsible for approximately 18% of the agency's total funding, causing a significant financial shortfall.
Expected Workforce Reductions
According to organizational projections, the workforce is expected to drop from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in January 2025 to approximately 7,030 by mid-2026.
This decrease of 2,371 positions comprises job cuts, retirements, and natural departures.
"The past year has been among the toughest in our history, as we undertook a painful but necessary process of prioritization and restructuring," commented the agency's director-general.
Budget Shortfall Persists
The Switzerland-headquartered organization now faces a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 period, representing nearly a quarter of its total funding.
The figure marks an reduction from a prior projected shortfall of $1.7bn noted in spring.
Excluded Funding
These budget calculations exclude a further $1.1bn in potential funding from current discussions with multiple donors.
A spokesperson for the organization noted that the present unsecured portion of the biennial budget is in fact lower than in earlier years, crediting this to multiple factors:
- A smaller overall budget size
- The launch of a new donor outreach campaign
- An increase in member states' mandatory fees
The realignment initiative is currently approaching its end, paving the way for the agency to move forward with a renewed operational model.
