Global health took centre stage at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday, where world leaders and philanthropic partners pledged over $170 million in new funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). This significant financial commitment comes amid escalating global health challenges and just ahead of the United States’ planned exit from the organisation.
The pledges were made during a high-level event aimed at supporting WHO’s Investment Round (IR), a critical fundraising initiative designed to finance the agency’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work. This strategic programme targets saving an estimated additional 40 million lives over the next four years.
Member states endorsed an increase in assessed contributions, agreeing to inject an additional $90 million annually into WHO’s core funding — a milestone that “marks another important step on WHO’s journey towards sustainable financing,” according to officials.
“I am grateful to every member state and partner that has pledged towards the investment round. In a challenging climate for global health, these funds will help us to preserve and extend our life-saving work. They show that multilateralism is alive and well,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
The meeting featured pledges from governments including Angola, Cambodia, China, Gabon, Mongolia, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, and Tanzania. Philanthropic organisations such as ELMA Philanthropies, Fondation Botnar, Laerdal Global Health, the Nippon Foundation, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation also confirmed substantial contributions. Notably, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation announced an additional $13 million and pledged to increase funding further.
The committed $170 million is earmarked for WHO’s Investment Round, which supports the agency’s base budget from 2025 through 2028, providing critical resources to address pressing health threats worldwide.
This surge in support reflects a reaffirmation of the global community’s commitment to multilateral cooperation in public health, particularly as WHO navigates new funding challenges following the US withdrawal.
