For the past 75 years, WHO has been at the forefront of the global health landscape, championing the cause of better health for all.
At the 147th IPU Assembly in Luanda, Angola, 23–27 October 2023, WHO organized a special session for parliamentarians to showcase WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14) and its financing and explore how investing in WHO will enable building a safer, more resilient and inclusive world. In the words of Gaudenz Silberschmidt, Director, Health and Multilateral Partnerships (HMP), “to achieve this broad ambition, the GPW14 will be developed through a broad and deep iterative process with Member States, including global and regional consultations, regional committee meetings and dedicated sessions”.
In a video message, Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Global Health Financing, underscored the importance of this endeavour: “The world is already too deeply divided to allow that further unbridgeable divides become entrenched between the world’s rich and poor. To protect ourselves locally and nationally, we need to act globally, not as an act of charity but as a matter of national security, and that requires proper funding of WHO”.
To address this issue, Member States made a historic decision in 2022 to increase assessed contributions to 50% of WHO's base budget over the next decade. This commitment, as Gordon Brown noted, is a significant step towards sustainable financing and a better financial model.
The COVID-19 pandemic starkly highlighted the lack of preparedness within the global community and the need for investment in health. It became evident that health spending is an investment that underpins the quality of life and prosperity.
The heart of the matter lies in WHO's General Programme of Work (GPW), which outlines the organization's priorities, goals, and strategies. GPW14 is currently in development and aims to equip WHO to fulfil its mandate and be the authoritative global health leader the world deserves. However, WHO's current financing model, relying heavily on voluntary contributions, poses a risk to its integrity and independence, as Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, pointed out: "The essential goal is to support WHO’s strategy in promoting health worldwide to ensure their outcomes are delivered as expected".
Within this context WHO proposes an Investment Round for late 2024 to make voluntary contributions more predictable and aligned with priorities, thus ensuring the full financing of WHO's base budget. This side event, organized by WHO, was a critical step towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As Gordon Brown emphasized, "Proper funding of WHO is essential for building a healthy, safe, and just world." This event brings us one step closer to that shared vision.