WHO Faces Significant Workforce Cuts After US Financial Withdrawal
This international public health organization revealed plans to cut its workforce by nearly a fourth – totaling over 2,000 jobs – before the middle of 2026.
Funding Shortfall Prompts Substantial Restructuring
The decision follows following the United States, previously the organization's biggest contributor, pulled out funding earlier this year.
The US government had been contributing about 18% of the agency's total budget, causing a significant financial gap.
Expected Staff Reductions
Based on organizational estimates, the workforce will decrease from 9,401 posts in early 2025 to around 7,030 by mid-2026.
The reduction of 2,371 positions comprises staff reductions, employees retiring, and natural departures.
"The past year has been among the toughest in WHO's existence, as we have navigated a challenging but necessary journey of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's director-general.
Financial Gap Remains
This Switzerland-headquartered organization currently confronts a budget shortfall of $1.06bn for the upcoming biennium, amounting to nearly a fourth of its required budget.
The amount represents an improvement from a previous projected shortfall of $1.7bn noted in May.
Excluded Funding
These budget projections exclude a further $1.1bn in potential contributions from current negotiations with various donors.
The representative for the organization stated that the current unfunded part of the budget is actually lower than in earlier years, crediting this to multiple factors:
- Reduced total budget size
- Initiation of a new fundraising campaign
- An increase in participating countries' mandatory contributions
The realignment process is currently nearing its end, paving the way for the agency to progress with a reshaped operational model.
