Countries Line Up Behind WHO, As Chief Rebuts Trump’s Claims; Many Love Multilateralism But Not All Want To Pay

Newsletter Edition #251 [The Files In-Depth]

Hi,

The current “shock-and-awe”, “slash-and-burn” effects stemming from the unfolding American domestic and foreign policy, have sent tremors in the world of global health, shaking long established assumptions and practices in the field.

Countries are pushing back once again, at such unilateral measures. All of this, is playing out also at the World Health Organization. Today’s update from us is on the on-going Executive Board meeting where financing and governance measures are being deliberated.

There will be no “reimagining of global health” fanciful as it sounds, if countries do not step up with hard cash, and when it matters.

We will continue to report on how foreign policy reframes global health, and what this forced transition at WHO means for people globally.

Thank you for reading.

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Best,

Priti

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Illustration Credit: Amy Clarke, Chembe Collaborative

I. EB156

Countries Line Up Behind WHO As Chief Rebuts Trump’s Claims; Many Love Multilateralism But Not All Want To Pay

By Priti Patnaik

Bianca Carvalho contributed to this story

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The smallest countries and the biggest blocs, stood up for WHO at the opening of one of the most significant Executive Board meetings in recent years that began this week, where they expressed regret, hoped for persuasion, and doubled down on the importance of the organization, responding to President Donald Trump’s decision to cut funding and withdraw from the institution.

However, for all the talk about multilateralism in global health, whether countries will cough up hard cash for the organization to tide over the financiing crisis, is far from clear.

WHO member states continue to discuss budgetary matters this week, with many countries already expressing support to paying their membership dues to the organization, even as, others including China sounding less enthusiastic about paying increased contributions. These matters are being negotiated at the meeting this week. (see more below). It remains to be seen whether the Board will be able to recommend an increase in membership fees to the Assembly in May 2025 in order adopt a new budget for 2026-2027.

In the short to medium term, unless countries take concrete measures to support the institution, the only multilateral forum in global health will struggle in a landscape of an acutely darkening situation for international aid.

Fundamental shifts in international aid have occurred in a matter of days following the 90-day funding freeze announced by the Trump administration. (For every US$ 10 spent on global humanitarian aid, 40% comes from the U.S., the administration has said.)

In this story, we review the discussions at the Executive Board so far, as the difficult meeting gets underway in Geneva with more than 47 items on agenda and more than 20 resolutions on the table, complicated by costing choices that countries have to make, in light of the financing crises.

Image Credit: Photo by Ave Calvar Martinez, Pexels