The World Health Organization officially kicked off its first investment round at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva. It’s asking for $11.1 billion overall to fund its work over the next four years — of which it expects the world’s countries will pay $4 billion in membership dues, leaving $7.1 billion for it to fundraise from governments and the private sector.
This is a new approach for the world’s leading public health agency. It’s never bundled its fundraising like this into a four-year package. It will host a fundraising event to usher in this finance in November.
It’s trying out something new because the old system hasn’t worked. For decades, the organization has been at the mercy of donor funds flowing in unpredictably and tied to certain projects, meaning WHO hasn’t been able to engage in long-term planning nor direct money to the areas it deems most pressing based on priorities set by the world’s governments. Donors, instead, have an oversized role in decision-making.