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This global health organization has announced plans to reduce its staff by nearly a quarter – totaling more than two thousand positions – before the middle of 2026.

Financial Shortfall Triggers Major Reorganization

The decision follows after the US, previously the agency's largest donor, pulled out financial support previously this period.

The US government was contributing approximately eighteen percent of the agency's total budget, causing a significant budgetary shortfall.

Expected Workforce Reductions

Based on organizational estimates, the workforce is expected to drop from nine thousand four hundred and one posts in early 2025 to around 7,030 by mid-2026.

The decrease of 2,371 posts includes job cuts, retirements, and regular attrition.

"This year was one of the toughest in our existence, as we have navigated a painful but essential journey of prioritization and restructuring," commented the agency's leader.

Budget Shortfall Remains

The Geneva-based body currently confronts a funding gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 biennium, amounting to almost a quarter of its total budget.

The amount marks an reduction from a previous estimated gap of $1.7bn reported in spring.

Excluded Funding

The financial calculations exclude a further 1.1 billion dollars in expected funding from current negotiations with multiple contributors.

The representative for the organization stated that the current unsecured portion of the biennial budget is actually lower than in earlier periods, crediting this to several factors:

• A smaller overall budget
• The launch of a new fundraising effort
• An increase in member states' mandatory fees

This realignment process is currently nearing its end, allowing the organization to move forward with a reshaped operational model.