During the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly, Member States today endorsed a historic measure to give the WHO sustainable financing. The plan raises assessed contributions by 20% and fits within the Organization’s approved $4.2 billion budget for 2026–2027. The step tackles the long-standing funding difficulties the WHO has faced for decades.
From Voluntary to Core Funding
Assessed contributions, membership dues paid by countries, make up just 16% of WHO’s funding, with the remainder coming from largely earmarked voluntary donations. These voluntary gifts often limit the organization’s flexibility and responsiveness. The decision builds on a 2022 commitment by Member States to gradually increase dues to cover 50% of WHO’s core budget by the 2030–2031 cycle.
The reforms adopted are in line with the recommendations of the Sustainable Financing Working Group, established in 2021 under the chairmanship of Germany’s Björn Kümmel. These recommendations include increasing assessed contributions, exploring alternative funding models, and creating a task group to improve WHO’s governance and transparency.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision “addresses head-on the decades-long challenge WHO has faced on predictable, flexible and sustainable funding.” He added that Member States are empowering WHO to meet expectations and fulfill its mandate as the world’s leading global health authority.
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A Budget Adjusted for Reality
The newly approved budget, which aligns with WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028), was scaled down from an earlier $5.3 billion proposal due to ongoing global financial constraints. The reduction reflects a pragmatic response to economic pressures while maintaining a strong financial foundation for the agency.
For a long time, financial experts and global health leaders have expressed concerns about WHO’s dependence on voluntary donations, which can limit the organization’s capacity to address long-term health challenges. However, with a potential return of $35 for every $1 invested, the decision to increase funding is seen as a sound economic move.
Supporters argue that sustainable financing will not only ensure WHO can deliver long-term support to countries and retain vital expertise, but also reinforce the Organization’s independence in setting and delivering global health priorities. The approval of this funding model and budget at WHA78 marks a turning point in WHO’s transformation efforts that began in 2017.
