Statement on WHO/Europe funding challenges
Thirty-second Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC), Third Session (virtual, 19–20 March 2025)
21 March 2025
Recognizing the significant funding challenges facing the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), while recalling the first WHO Investment Round, the 32nd Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe, at its third session on 19–20 March 2025, expresses:
- its deep appreciation to the Regional Office, including geographically dispersed offices, subregional hubs and country offices, for the quality of its work and commitment to ensure continued delivery of WHO’s core functions and activities in this challenging time;
- its serious concern at the decline in thematic flexible funding to WHO/Europe and the high degree of dependence on highly specified voluntary contributions;
- its further concern regarding the sustainability and predictability of funding across programme budget outcomes, and the potential impact on the essential work and functions of WHO/Europe;
- its full appreciation for WHO/Europe’s efforts to address these challenges for the near and medium terms, including through immediate cost containment measures to stabilize and safeguard, focused resource mobilization, and strategic reprioritization paving the way for the second European Programme of Work, 2026–2030 (EPW2);
- its full support to the WHO Regional Director for Europe for his leadership in reimagining WHO/Europe for the future and his commitment to a robust process of strategic realignment including identifying the core functions and workforce required to deliver a prioritized EPW2 in a challenging financial context; and
- its appreciation to the entire WHO workforce for their commitment and dedication to leaving no one behind.
Recalling the Organization’s constitution and role as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, while noting the advances in public health in the WHO European Region through implementation of the first European Programme of Work, 2020–2025 (EPW), the Standing Committee:
- calls upon Member States to continue to support the efforts of the Organization to move towards sustainable, predictable financing including through (1) supporting the proposed increase of assessed contributions at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly, (2) additional voluntary contributions as part of the WHO Investment Round and (3) demonstrating flexibility in the use of available specified funding including as appropriate through immediate reprogramming where this is practicable;
- calls upon the Regional Office:
- to continue its communication and information efforts so all Member States of the Region are fully informed and engaged in WHO/Europe’s work to address its funding challenges;
- to continue its swift implementation of immediate cost containment measures to stabilize and safeguard, reporting to Member States on the impact of these measures on the financial situation of WHO/Europe;
- to implement a two-track approach to resource mobilization by safeguarding core operations through reprogramming while pursuing new opportunities;
- to continue implementing the strategic realignment process of prioritization and deprioritization, including identifying the organization design, models of collaboration and workforce required for the future in a challenging financial context;
- to ensure Member State engagement in the EPW2 prioritization process through established platforms, while ensuring alignment with global processes including relating to Programme budget 2026–2027; and
- to support the mental health and well-being of staff during this period of uncertainty, including through counselling and related support.