Qatar
Partner in global health
This content is last updated on 20 October 2021.
The strategic partnership with the State of Qatar
The World Health Organization is proud of its partnership with the State of Qatar, an unwavering partner in advocating for universal health coverage (UHC) and in addressing global health challenges.
WHO welcomes Qatar for its commitment to global health, backed by its flexible funding contributions. WHO appreciates in particular the Core Voluntary Contribution Agreement (CVCA) signed in 2021, which provides much needed flexible funding to WHO towards fulfilling the needs of vital programmes, tackling health emergencies, and providing critical support in vulnerable communities around the world.
Flexible funding has helped WHO advance gender, equity and human rights in health and develop innovative tools and methods countries can use to identify who is being left behind. Flexible funds also catalyzed progress in the fight against non- communicable diseases (NCDs); supported healthy ageing initiatives, WHO’s information and evidence-gathering work; and WHO’s crosscutting work related to national health systems that focus on integrated people-centred services.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful demonstration that health is not a luxury item or merely a product of strong and prosperous societies; it is a fundamental human right and the foundation of social, economic and political stability. I thank the State of Qatar for its contribution, which will support WHO to achieve its mission to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable”. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, QFFD PR |
Top Core Voluntary Contributions biennium 2020-2021
data from WHO Budget Portal (updated until Q2 2021)
| Contributor | Funding received US$ million |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 119.58 |
| Sweden | 31.67 |
| Australia | 15.83 |
| Finland | 10.74 |
| Netherlands | 8.85 |
| Qatar | 8.85 |
| France | 5.03 |
| Belgium | 3.55 |
| Denmark | 3.49 |
| Switzerland | 2.44 |
| Ireland | 1.13 |
*WHO administrative costs have been deducted from the figures above.
Qatar: A top core voluntary contribution donor
In 2021, WHO and the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) signed the first-ever Core voluntary contribution (CVC) agreement in support of WHO’s implementation of the General Programme of Work. This agreement places Qatar among WHO's top 10 Core Voluntary donors in 2021.
Core voluntary contributions are the most flexible type of voluntary contributions, and are critical in helping WHO avoid pockets of poverty amongst key priorities, as well as dedicate needed funds to emergency operations, providing essential health services to the most vulnerable, and people most in need. These funds also enable WHO to ensure the continuity of its operations and programmes.
This valuable support also allows WHO to be agile and act quickly where and when needed without delays or constraints when the most vulnerable communities around the world are in need. Flexible funds enable WHO to respond rapidly to the evolving global health environment and meet the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr Tedros Adhanim Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General with Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Public Health
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Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari with Dr Mohamed bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Qatar Director of Public Health
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Jane Ellison, WHO Executive Director for External Relations and Governance with Qatar Ambassador Ali bin Khalfan Al Mansouri, HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland
Jane Ellison, WHO Executive Director for External Relations and Governance with Qatar Ambassador Ali bin Khalfan Al Mansouri, HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland
Jane Ellison, WHO Executive Director for External Relations and Governance with Qatar Ambassador Ali bin Khalfan Al Mansouri, HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland
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Top priorities
- Emergencies
– COVID-19 Response – crisis in Sudan
– Humanitarian response in Afghanistan - Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
- Sports & health
Emergencies
COVID-19 Response - crisis in Sudan
WHO and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), are collaborating with the Health Emergencies and Epidemic Control Directorate of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) in White Nile States, Sudan, to implement necessary measures in support of health emergencies preparedness. The project aims at strengthening the three elements of preparedness: (i) local governance structures, (ii) building capacities to assess risks, prevent, detect and control health emergencies, and (iii) ensuring sufficient human, logistics and financial resources.
The project covers all nine localities of the White Nile State – with a population of 2,325,245 million, and 274,802 refugees (12% of total population).
WHO field visits have helped identify needs at Primary Health Care Facilities and laboratory facilities requiring rehabilitation and materials to help expand disease surveillance sites, as well as required capacity building activities to strengthen preparedness capacities among health professionals – including community volunteers. The project includes procurement of required ICT equipment for surveillance and laboratory/PHC capacity strengthening and rehabilitation; training of more than 400 staff and community health workers; expansion of surveillance sites; and conducting a desk review of the existing emergency response strategies, policies, preparedness and response plans and SOPs.
Humanitarian response in Afghanistan
In September 2021, the State of Qatar has been provided crucial support to humanitarian response operations in Afghanistan, delivering 2 shipments carrying essential medicines such as insulin, medical consumables, trauma and surgery kits, and COVID-19 testing kits. These supplies are addressing the urgent health needs of 1.45 million people and have provided for 5400 major and minor surgeries. They are being distributed to 280 health facilities and 31 public COVID-19 laboratories across Afghanistan.
We thank #Qatar 🇶🇦 for its generous support to the people of #Afghanistan through medical and aid supply flights, including @WHO's, and hosting evacuees. Impressive whole of government and whole of society approach to helping the Afghan people.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 19, 2021
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
In 2018, WHO signed a multi-year agreement with Qatar Fund for Development for US$ 3 million, in support of the Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases In (ESPEN) AFRICA. ESPEN’s goal is to support African countries to reduce the burden of five most prevalent Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa. These include Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis, Schistosomiasis and Trachoma.
This funding provided a significant boost to ongoing efforts by the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), a five-year project launched by the WHO Regional Office for Africa in 2016. ESPEN’s goal is support African countries to reduce the burden of five aforementioned most prevalent Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.