WHO’s Big Budget Shake‑Up: A Fresh Start for Global Health
In a ground‑breaking move at the World Health Assembly in Geneva this week, the 194 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) gave the green light to a plan that aims to revamp the organization’s funding model. The decision was touted as “fundamentally rotten” by a few insiders, but it’s now being framed as the springboard the WHO needs to step out of its donor‑driven rut.
Why the Old System Was Bad
Historically, mandatory contributions from member countries were the backbone of the WHO’s budget:
- Now it’s a tiny 16 % of the total funding.
- Most of the money comes in the form of purpose‑specific donations—think “I’ll only fund HIV research” or “I want to see a vaccine for malaria.”
- This sandwich‑style money meant the WHO often had to accept whoever was offering the cash, making it hard to allocate resources for urgent needs.
What’s Changing?
The newly approved overhaul calls for mandatory fees to rise, potentially accounting for up to 50 % of the WHO budget as early as the 2030‑31 fiscal year—pending the implementation of the agreed‑upon reforms.
Key players:
- United States and Germany remain the biggest headline donors.
- Germany’s Bjorn Kummel, who fronted the working group, described the status quo as “fundamentally rotten.”
- Professor Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown Law stresses that the WHO must “control its own budget” to succeed.
What the Leaders Are Saying
- WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the reform would “completely transform this organisation.”
- Previous attempts—such as the 3 % lift in 2017—haven’t been enough.
- The shift is expected to free the WHO from its “teller banker” past.
Bottom Line
The WHO’s decision to up its mandatory commitments is the most significant outcome of the assembly so far. If implemented, it could finally grant the agency the financial independence it desperately needs—giving it the ability to act on urgency, not on who’s willing to write the check.
