WHO Confronts Significant Workforce Reduction After US Financial Withdrawal
The international health organization revealed plans to cut its staff by almost a quarter – totaling more than two thousand jobs – before mid-2026.
Financial Crisis Triggers Major Reorganization
This decision follows after the United States, formerly the agency's biggest donor, pulled out funding previously this period.
The US government was contributing about eighteen percent of the organization's total budget, creating a significant budgetary shortfall.
Expected Workforce Cuts
According to internal projections, the workforce will decrease from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in early 2025 to around 7,030 by June 2026.
This decrease of 2,371 positions includes job cuts, employees retiring, and natural attrition.
"The past year was one of the toughest in our existence, as we have navigated a painful but essential process of prioritisation and realignment," commented the organization's director-general.
Financial Shortfall Persists
The Switzerland-headquartered organization currently confronts a budget gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 period, amounting to almost a fourth of its total budget.
The figure marks an reduction from a previous projected gap of $1.7bn reported in May.
Excluded Funding
The financial projections do not include an additional $1.1bn in expected funding from ongoing discussions with various contributors.
A representative for the organization noted that the current unsecured portion of the biennial budget is in fact lower than in previous years, attributing this to multiple reasons:
- A smaller overall budget
- The launch of a new fundraising effort
- An increase in member states' mandatory fees
The restructuring initiative is now approaching its completion, allowing the organization to progress with a reshaped operational model.
