14 African Countries Pledge $45 Million to WHO Investment Round

Fourteen African nations and several global health partners pledged more than US$ 45 million to the World Health Organization during a historic funding drive. The financial commitments were announced at the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa. The newly launched Investment Round seeks to secure sustainable financing for the core operations of the agency at the center of the global health architecture over the next four years. Heads of state and government from across the continent gathered to underscore the necessity of robust global health investments. According to the World Health Organization, the participating nations include Botswana, Cabo Verde, Chad, Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed gratitude for the continent-wide backing. I thank our African Region Member States for actively supporting WHO’s first Investment Round to mobilize predictable and flexible resources needed for our core work over the next four years, Dr Ghebreyesus said, as noted in the official announcement. Full, sustainable funding will enable WHO to support countries better in their work to build healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous populations. In addition to member states, multiple philanthropic and development organizations stepped forward with financial commitments and promises of further pledges later in the year. These partners include the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the World Diabetes Foundation, Roche, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the African Development Bank, and the WHO Foundation. A strong, predictable and sustainably financed WHO is essential for our region and the world to meet the multiple health threats we face; and support the prevention of disease based on the vast evidence at our disposal, Dr Moeti stated. Every pledge and every partnership counts. Together, we can achieve a future where health and well-being are accessible to all.

Origins and Objectives of the WHO Investment Round

The multi-million dollar pledging effort stems from the formal launch of the Investment Round at the World Health Assembly in May 2024.

The framework of the current Investment Round is designed to secure three specific funding attributes:

Resources that remain flexible and align directly with the WHO strategy approved by Member States.

Funds provided predictably at the start of the four-year budget cycle to facilitate long-term strategic planning.

Resilient revenue streams derived from a larger and more diverse donor base.

The World Health Organization plans to continue the Investment Round over the coming months, featuring additional pledging milestones hosted globally to meet its broader financial targets.