The World Health Organization’s (WHO) first-ever Investment Round reached a pivotal milestone at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Chaired by Brazilian President H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the event saw heads of state and government voice strong support for sustainable WHO funding. Several new financial commitments were announced, including a pledge by South Africa, the incoming G20 Chair, to prioritize sustainable financing for WHO in 2025.
The G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration underscored this commitment, stating: “We reiterate the central coordinating role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the global health architecture, supported by adequate, predictable, transparent, flexible, and sustainable financing. We support the conducting of the WHO Investment Round as an additional measure for financing WHO activities.”
Strengthening WHO’s Strategy for Global Health
The Investment Round aims to fund WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work, a global health strategy poised to save an additional 40 million lives over four years. The initiative is reshaping WHO’s funding model to ensure greater predictability, flexibility, and resilience.
During the summit, pledges from Australia, Indonesia, and Spain brought the total commitments to $1.7 billion. Including existing funding agreements and expected partnerships, WHO now has $3.8 billion secured—53% of its $7.1 billion target for 2025–2028. This marks a significant improvement from 2020, when only 17% of funding was secured for the previous strategy. Efforts will continue to bridge the remaining funding gap.
Expanding WHO’s Donor Base
The Investment Round has broadened WHO’s donor base, with 70 new pledges since its May launch. Notably, 39 contributors, including low- and middle-income countries, are offering voluntary funds for the first time. Seven low-income and 21 middle-income nations are among the new donors, signaling a growing recognition of the importance of investing in global health.
The number of donors providing flexible funding has also risen, with 46 contributors compared to 35 in the previous cycle. This flexibility enables WHO to allocate resources where they are most needed, enhancing its efficiency and responsiveness.
Leaders Emphasize the Importance of Investing in WHO
World leaders lauded the Investment Round as a crucial step toward global health resilience:
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil: “The World Health Organization represents humanity’s greatest ideals. Investment over the next four years will be repaid many times over in well-being gained, setting the foundation for future generations.”
- Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany: “The work of the WHO benefits all of us. It needs reliable financing from a broad base. Every contribution counts.”
- President Emmanuel Macron of France: “Investing in WHO is investing in our capacity to respond to health crises and pandemics. WHO’s role as the global health compass is irreplaceable.”
- President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa: “We are proud to continue highlighting WHO’s importance and the need for sustainable financing during South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025.”
A Healthier and Safer Future
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed gratitude to leaders and donors: “The WHO Investment Round is about mobilizing predictable, flexible funding to save lives, prevent disease, and make the world healthier and safer. I thank President Lula for hosting this historic moment and President Ramaphosa for carrying forward the baton of sustainable financing.”
With additional pledges anticipated in the coming months, WHO is well on its way to delivering its vision for global health and equity.
