WHO adapts to financial blow: Staff contracts limited to one year

The World Health Organization (WHO) has begun implementing significant measures to ensure its survival following the US withdrawal from the agency in January.

An internal memo, dated March 10 and signed by WHO's Assistant Director-General Raul Thomas, revealed that the organization is imposing a one-year limit on staff contracts as part of its cost-cutting efforts, Caliber.Az reports, referring to foreign media.

This move comes as part of a broader strategy to reduce expenses and adapt to the financial strain caused by the US decision to withdraw.

The U.S. has long been the WHO's largest financial contributor, providing around 18% of the agency's overall funding. Washington played a pivotal role in establishing the WHO after World War Two and has been one of its most active members. The withdrawal of American support has created a financial vacuum, prompting the WHO to reevaluate its operations and find alternative sources of funding.

In response to this challenge, WHO senior officials have spent the past three weeks prioritizing the agency's activities to ensure its sustainability. The memo emphasized that the organization is operating in a "fluid environment" and is undertaking a prioritization process to direct resources toward the most pressing needs. The goal is to maximize the impact of available funds while minimizing inefficiencies.

"We are working to navigate these shifting tides by ensuring that every resource is directed toward the most pressing priorities," the memo stated. "This work will preserve WHO's ability to make a lasting impact."

While the document did not announce immediate staff cuts, it acknowledged that some "difficult decisions" would be necessary due to the magnitude of the financial challenges. WHO officials are also working to secure additional funding from countries, private donors, and philanthropists, although the memo did not provide details on the success of these efforts.

WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris commented on the ongoing transformation within the organization, noting that even before the US funding cuts, the agency had been shifting resources away from its Geneva headquarters and into the field. "What’s really been happening is a big transfer of funding and staffing and commitment at the country level away from HQ," she said. "It has been a slow process, and for sure, the cold winds of economic rationalization are speeding that up."

Documents from the WHO show that over a quarter of the agency's 9,473 staff members are based in Geneva, one of the most expensive cities in the world. 

By Tamilla Hasanova