WHO

Member State information session on WHO Prioritization and the proposed programme budget 2026-2027

23 April 2025

 EU statement

Chair, Distinguished colleagues,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its 27 Member States.

We thank the Secretariat for organizing this information session.

We underline that these reforms are taking place in a politically and financially highly volatile environment. We appreciate that WHO is showing the institutional courage to adapt to the fluid and challenging financing reality in the design of the Programme Budget 2026-2027. We commend the commitment to conclude a significant prioritisation/de-prioritisation process and deliver the necessary structural reforms and adjustments. However, its success will also depend on a longer-term reform implementation process beyond WHA78 and 2025, which is essential for a more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable Organization.

In this vein, and in addition to the points highlighted during the consultation of 25 March, we would like to make the following points and requests: 

1. First, on the proposed programme budget 2026-2027, we welcome the Secretariat’s proposal for the revision of the budget to a maximum $ 4.2 billion. However, we face additional constraints and the challenge of bridging a funding gap of $1.8 billion for the PB2026-2027, according to information provided earlier. Is this a realistic budget scenario? Can WHO advise on progress towards the $1.8 billion target, and provide details on the actions to achieve this? 

2. Second, the information provided suggests cost savings from reorganisation and administrative cost containment could generate significant additional savings to reduce the financial gap. What are the realistic forecasts for such savings? Can the Secretariat provide details on the amounts expected?

3. Third, in order to mitigate the funding gap in the implementation of the 2025 programme budget while maintaining and safeguarding the capacity needed to implement the re-prioritised PB 2026-2027, it is essential to put in place and share a clear and detailed reform and reorganization plan through January 2026 that defines a clear path to sustainability. This plan should include measurable milestones, timelines and a concrete staffing strategy. We encourage WHO to present interim results already before the WHA78 and Executive Board session in May 2025.

4. Fourth, in order to avoid duplications and enhance efficiency at HQ, regional and country level, we underscore the importance of ensuring strong horizontal and vertical coordination to ensure that the Organization can continue to deliver its core mandate across all three levels, from WHO’s normative and standard-setting role to delivery on the ground. We would welcome more details on how duplication among different departments or units at the same level, and between HQ, regions and country offices is currently being assessed. 

Finally, we want to emphasize our unwavering support and commitment to WHO as the cornerstone of the global health architecture. It is critical that WHO’s prioritization and reform exercise are conducted in consultation with the other actors of the global health ecosystem. Enhancing coordination, seeking synergies and complementarity, eliminating overlaps and avoiding gaps is key to rationalize this global health ecosystem and improve its efficiency. Given WHO’s mandate in its constitution to act as ‘the directing and coordinating authority on international health work’, we want to express our support for WHO to fulfill this unique convening role. We reiterate our call on WHO to lead the reform of the global health ecosystem with other UN bodies as part of the UN80 initiative and global health actors. We would welcome an update from WHO on the actions undertaken and plans with regard to the coordination of mandates and operations of key actors. As WHO member states and stakeholders in the global health ecosystem, we affirm our strong commitment to constructively engaging in such collaborative and inclusive process. 

We stand ready to engage in further consultations on all aspects of this process.

Thank you