Today's Edition
GENEVA (AFP)
Next week promises to be a crucial one for the World Health Organisation, with member states coming together in Geneva to adopt a landmark pandemic agreement and a slimmed-down budget amid US funding cuts.
Dozens of high-ranking officials and thousands of delegates are set to gather for the United Nations health agency's annual decision-making assembly, to be held from May 19 to 27.
WHO's assistant director-general for external relations and governance, Catharina Boehme, told reporters, "This huge gathering comes... at a pivotal moment for global health."
It comes as countries are confronting "emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development," she said.
More than five years after the emergence of COVID-19, which killed millions of people, much of the focus next week will be on the expected adoption of a hard-won international agreement on how to better protect against and tackle future pandemics.
After more than three years of negotiations, countries reached consensus on a text last month but final approval by the World Health Assembly is needed -- a discussion expected to take place on Tuesday.
Deep Cuts
Also high on the agenda next week will be the dramatic overhaul of WHO operations and finances.
WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told member states last month that the agency would need to slim down due to deep US funding cuts.
The agency has been bracing for Trump's planned full withdrawal of the United States -- by far its largest donor -- next January.
The United States gave WHO $1.3 billion for its 2022-2023 budget, mainly through voluntary contributions for specific projects rather than fixed membership fees.
"The loss of US funding, combined with reductions in official development assistance by some other countries, means we are facing a salary gap for the next biennium of more than $500 million," Tedros said on Wednesday.
Tedros has not said how many jobs will be lost, but on Wednesday, he announced the organisation would cut its leadership team nearly in half.
Budget Gap
Next week, member states will vote on a proposed 20-percent increase of WHO's mandatory membership fees for the 2026-27 budget period, Boehme said.
Members already agreed in 2022 to increase the mandatory fees to cover 50 percent of the WHO budget.
Without that decision, Tedros said Wednesday that "our current financial situation would be much worse -- $300 million worse."
"It is essential, therefore, that member states approve this next increase, to make another step towards securing the long-term financial sustainability and independence of WHO."
Countries will also be asked to adopt the 2026-2027 budget, at a time when development assistance funding, including for health resources, are dwindling globally.
"We have proposed a reduced budget of $4.2 billion for the 2026-2027 biennium, a 21-percent reduction on the original proposed budget of 5.3 billion," Tedros said.
If the increase in membership fees is approved, the WHO estimates it can raise more than $2.6 billion, or more than 60 percent of the budget.
"That leaves an anticipated budget gap of more than $1.7 billion," Tedros said.
