France Pledges €24 Million to WHO in New Funding Agreements

France has committed €24 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) through seven contribution agreements signed on October 17, 2024. According to the WHO, these funds from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs will support emergency responses in Gaza and Ukraine, combat cholera outbreaks, and address non-communicable diseases.

The agreements were signed at WHO headquarters in Geneva by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Jérôme Bonnafont, the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Geneva. The funding is part of the France–WHO Framework Agreement for 2020 to 2025, which the WHO describes as a strategic framework for engagement aligned with organizational priorities.

Distribution of French Health Funding

Of the total €24 million, France allocated €4.5 million as fully flexible voluntary funds for the Core Voluntary Contributions Account (CVCA). The remaining funds are targeted toward specific health challenges and operational centers, according to the WHO.

• Emergency Response: Funding for the WHO response in Gaza, cholera outbreak interventions, and mental health support in Ukraine.
• Systemic Health Initiatives: Support for the One Health approach, urban health labs, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• Infrastructure: Continued support for the WHO emergencies centre in Lyon, which the organization states is crucial for epidemic preparedness.
• Crisis Funding: Contributions to the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE).

The WHO stated that this financial support allows the organization to protect vulnerable populations and address immediate health threats.

Strategic Financial Alignment and Global Health Equity

The contribution reflects a broader French policy to support a more predictably financed WHO. According to the WHO, France supports the increase of assessed contributions to the organization to ensure more flexible funding.

France remains deeply committed to supporting the World Health Organization in its efforts to tackle critical global health challenges. These agreements reflect our shared priorities of promoting health equity, responding to emergencies, and strengthening healthcare systems worldwide.

Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont

France is currently serving as a co-host for the WHO’s first Investment Round. This initiative aims to mobilize predictable resources for the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028), a plan approved by the World Health Assembly in 2024, according to the WHO.

We are immensely grateful to the French Government for its steadfast support to WHO, continued partnership and leadership in global health. This contribution will enable us to address key health threats, from non-communicable diseases to emergency response, helping to save lives and protect the most vulnerable populations.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

The WHO and the French government characterized the signing ceremony as a milestone in a longstanding partnership aimed at strengthening global healthcare systems.