World Leaders, Others Pledge Over $170m To WHO Ahead Of US Exit

Global leaders have pledged at least an additional $170 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) amid rising global Health challenges.

The pledges were made at a high-level pledging event on Tuesday at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, where leaders reaffirmed their support for multilateral cooperation through these contributions to WHO’s Investment Round (IR).

The IR is raising funds for WHO’s strategy for global health, the Fourteenth General Programme of Work, which can save an additional 40 million lives over the next four years. The pledges made today represent significant contributions from both governments and philanthropic partners.

Member States approved an increase in Assessed Contributions, adding a separate US$ 90 million a year of income, and marking another important step on WHO’s journey towards sustainable financing.

“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,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “They show that multilateralism is alive and well.”

The meeting featured pledges from Angola, Cambodia, China, Gabon, Mongolia, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, ELMA Philanthropies (with the WHO Foundation), Fondation Botnar, Laerdal Global Health (with the WHO Foundation), the Nippon Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation announced an additional US$ 13 million and committed to further increases in funding.

Among the announcements, at least US$ 170 million is for the Investment Round – the funding supports WHO’s base budget from 2025–2028. Eight of the donors included a flexible contribution to WHO, the most valuable sort of funding, and four were first-time donors.

Through the One World Movement, almost 8000 people from across the world have signed on as ‘Member Citizens’, contributing almost US$ 600,000 in donations, many monthly – a powerful expression of global solidarity and an affirmation that every voice counts.

Contributor: Additional amount for WHO Investment Round

Angola: US$ 8 million
Cambodia: US$ 400 000
China: Contribution to Investment Round to be confirmed.
Gabon: US$ 150 000
Mongolia: US$ 100 000
Qatar: US$ 6 million
Sweden: €12 million = US$ 13.5 million
Switzerland: Sw.fr. 33 million = US$ 40 million
Tanzania: US$ 500,000 (in addition to US$ 500,000 already announced)
CIFF: US$ 13 million and commitment to further increase
ELMA Philanthropies: US$ 2 million
Foundation Botnar: Sw.fr. 8 million = US$ 9.6 million
Laerdal Global Health: US$ 12.5 million
Nippon Foundation, Mr. Sasakawa, (Chairman): US$ 9.2 million
Novo Nordisk Foundation: DKK 380 million = US$ 57 million