WHO lowers 2026 global health emergency funding appeal to about $1 billion amid cutbacks

The World Health Organization has unveiled a scaled-down emergency funding appeal for 2026, seeking roughly $1 billion, about one-third less than last year, due to declining donor contributions and uncertainty stemming from the U.S. withdrawal. WHO plans to channel funds into 36 crises worldwide, prioritizing lifesaving work in places like Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine. Despite tough financial restraints, the agency stressed its commitment to essential health services and saving lives.

As the global health landscape grapples with mounting crises and shrinking aid budgets, the World Health Organization (WHO) has adjusted its strategy for addressing emergencies in 2026, announcing a lower funding appeal than in previous years. In a climate where humanitarian needs are intensifying and donor support is not keeping pace, WHO is now seeking around US$1 billion to finance immediate health responses worldwide, a reduction of approximately one-third compared to its appeal last year.

This revised appeal underscores the intersecting pressures facing the world’s principal public health agency. On one hand, conflicts, climate shocks and emerging disease outbreaks continue to strain health systems and sap resources. On the other, the financial backing that enables WHO’s emergency operations has contracted, forcing difficult decisions about where to concentrate limited funds. The result is a leaner, more targeted approach aimed at preserving life and stabilizing health systems where they are most vulnerable.

During a press briefing in Geneva, WHO officials emphasized that the focus will be on high-impact interventions that save lives and protect essential services rather than a broader set of activities. Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, Chikwe Ihekweazu, reiterated the organization’s determination to remain engaged in crises even as resources tighten, signaling that WHO will not abandon regions in need but may have to scale back in some areas compared with ambitions from previous years.

The 2026 appeal seeks funding for 36 humanitarian emergencies, including some of the most complex and protracted crises in the world. Among these are the prolonged conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, as well as ongoing needs in Ukraine, situations that have eroded health infrastructure, disrupted access to care and left millions without reliable medical support. WHO’s prioritization reflects a stark reality: global humanitarian funding has dipped to levels not seen in years, hampering the capacity to respond to crises comprehensively.

The backdrop to this financial tightening includes notable shifts in donor behavior. Of particular significance is the departure of the United States from WHO membership earlier in 2026, a move that has stirred questions about future American contributions to the agency’s funding streams. While the U.S. had already scaled back its emergency appeal contributions prior to exit, its absence exacerbates uncertainties for an organization heavily reliant on voluntary funding. European nations, the European Union, Saudi Arabia and Germany have been among the more prominent contributors, but the gap left by waning U.S. support is palpable.

WHO’s governances structure means that emergency response financing does not draw from mandatory member assessments but depends on voluntary donations. This model has permitted flexibility and responsiveness in the past, but in an era of fiscal retrenchment, where governments around the world face competing domestic priorities, securing predictable, sufficient support has become increasingly challenging.

Internally, WHO has responded to these constraints by refining its emergency strategy. Drawing on the principles of emergency medicine and crisis management, the agency is concentrating on activities where it adds the greatest value and where lives can be saved most effectively. Essential health services such as vaccinations, trauma care, outbreak response and maternal and child health support form the core of this prioritized agenda. By doing so, WHO aims to maximize the life-saving impact of every dollar received, even as overall funding shrinks.

This recalibration also highlights WHO’s emphasis on working closely with local authorities and health systems. Rather than acting in isolation, the agency is strengthening partnerships that empower governments and frontline responders to lead emergency health efforts. This collaborative model is intended to enhance resilience and ensure that interventions align with country-specific needs, bolstering capacity both now and in future crises.

The need for this appeal is stark. According to WHO’s own estimates, hundreds of millions of people will require humanitarian assistance in 2026 as conflict, climate change, displacement and disease continue to upend lives across the globe. Access to basic health care, from routine treatments to emergency surgeries, vaccinations, and disease surveillance, remains fragile in many of the hardest hit regions. Without prompt and predictable funding, life-saving services risk disruption, potentially driving up mortality and exacerbating human suffering.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has framed the appeal as more than a funding request; it is a call for global solidarity. He insists that providing health care in times of crisis is not an act of charity but a strategic investment in peace, security and human dignity. By supporting health infrastructure and emergency services, nations can help stabilize communities, reduce displacement and prevent health emergencies from spiraling into broader humanitarian catastrophes.

Past emergency appeals have enabled WHO and its partners to reach millions. In 2025 alone, WHO supported approximately 30 million people through health consultations, vaccinations, mobile clinics and operational support for thousands of health facilities. Yet even with that substantial reach, funding shortages meant that only a fraction of those in need could be served. This shortfall underscores the urgency of securing funds early in 2026 to prevent further gaps in care.

As the world confronts a constellation of humanitarian challenges, WHO’s adjusted appeal for 2026 represents both a pragmatic adaptation and an urgent plea. It reflects the hard choices humanitarian actors must make when resources are stretched thin, but also the enduring commitment to protect health in the darkest corners of the globe. The success of the appeal and the solidarity it inspires, will shape how effectively the global community can respond to emergencies in the year ahead.

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Source: ET‍