In a historic display of unity, 14 African nations, alongside numerous global partners, have committed over $45 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) Investment Round, a recently launched initiative aimed at securing sustainable funding for the global health body.
This effort, which has been active for just three months, seeks to strengthen WHO’s ability to serve as a cornerstone of global health infrastructure.
These pledges were made during the WHO Regional Committee for Africa meeting, where heads of state and government from across the continent emphasized the critical need to invest in global health initiatives and ensure a robust and well-funded WHO.
The event marked a significant step towards securing sustainable financing for WHO, allowing it to more effectively carry out its mandate to promote, protect, and provide health and well-being for all. The countries that pledged support include Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Congo, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, and The Gambia.
Several key partners also joined in the commitments, pledging their support to WHO and promising further contributions later in the year. These partners include the Helmsley Charitable Trust, World Diabetes Foundation, Roche, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, African Development Bank, and the WHO Foundation.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his gratitude for the support from the African nations. “I thank our African Region Member States for actively supporting WHO’s first Investment Round to mobilize predictable and flexible resources needed for our core work over the next four years. Full, sustainable funding will enable WHO to better support countries in their efforts to build healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous populations,” he said.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, underscored the importance of a well-funded WHO. “A strong, predictable, and sustainably financed WHO is essential for our region and the world to address the multiple health threats we face and support disease prevention based on the vast evidence at our disposal. Every pledge and partnership counts. Together, we can achieve a future where health and well-being are accessible to all,” she stated.
The WHO Investment Round will continue over the coming months, with additional key pledging events planned worldwide. With a fully and sustainably funded budget for the next four years, WHO will be better positioned to respond to health emergencies and outbreaks, reduce the burden of infectious and noncommunicable diseases, and continue its efforts to improve global health, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
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