In a demonstration of commitment to a sustainably financed World Health Organization, WHO Member States have approved a 20% increase in assessed contributions (membership dues). This decision was made as they endorsed the organizations 2026-27 budget of US$ 4.2 billion.

This marks the second instance of a 20% increase in assessed contributions to WHO, with the first having been agreed upon within the 2024-25 budget. This commitment arrives during a period of financial constraints and economic challenges for many governments, highlighting the basic support of Member States for global health solidarity and the vital role of WHO.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, along with other senior leaders, expressed gratitude to Member States for their support and partnership. They acknowledged the profound vote of confidence in WHO’s mission and their dedication to health security and resilience on a global scale.

The WHO has faced challenges due to insufficient and unpredictable funding, hindering its ability to execute long-term projects and support its global operations aimed at promoting health for all. This issue, coupled with an over-reliance on funding from a limited number of traditional donors, was identified as a significant organizational challenge within WHO’s Transformation initiative, launched in 2017.

In 2022, WHO Member states agreed to a historic increase in their assessed contributions. This increase involves gradually raising membership dues to represent 50% of WHO’s core budget by the 2030-2031 cycle, at the latest. In the 2020-2021 biennium,assessed contributions accounted for only 16% of the approved program budget.

While efforts towards enduring financing began years ago, recent shifts in the global financial landscape have made it even more critical. The WHO’s originally approved 2026-27 programme budget was downsized by 22% (from US$ 5.3 billion to US$ 4.2 billion) as an inevitable result of financial constraints.

The approved base programme budget of US$ 4.2 billion for 2026-2027 is the first to be fully developed based on the Organization’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work, 2025-2028 (GPW 14), which serves as its global health strategy for the next four years.

Ensuring WHO has sustainable levels of financing is critical for it to continue responding to health emergencies, increasing health-care access, and ensuring people are living healthy lives.

The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly marks a key moment in the transformation of WHO to become a more efficient and effective organization, made possible by contributions from partners across the globe.