As the World Health Organization undergoes a sweeping restructuring prompted by donor funding cuts, some staffers are raising concerns that the agency is prioritizing long-serving employees over merit.
The agency’s restructuring is expected to result in significant job losses. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus slashed his leadership team by almost half in May. Reductions in WHO directors are anticipated in the coming days, to be followed by staffing decisions at unit and team levels.
According to a human resources document seen by Devex, the process includes a “mapping” and “matching” exercise where staff on continuing or fixed-term appointments will be considered for positions in the new organizational structure. An Ad Hoc Review Committee will be put in place to review proposals made under the exercise and ensure staffing proposals uphold “WHO’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
