The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that it is expanding its crowdfunding campaign to offset financial losses caused by the United States’ withdrawal, its largest funding source. The campaign, originally launched by WHO staffer Tania Cernusch, aims to raise $1 billion and has so far collected $158,000 from 5,000 donors across more than 140 countries.
### 1 Dollar 1 World Campaign
Building on the success of the 1 Dollar 1 World campaign, WHO is now amplifying and evolving the initiative to encourage more people around the world to show their solidarity. “What started as a grassroots initiative by a WHO staff member has grown into a global movement for health,” the organization said in a statement.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Cernusch for her inspiration, adding that the initiative embodies “solidarity, action, innovation, and hope.” He stated, “It shows that in times of crisis, people everywhere can unite and commit to protecting and promoting the health of others. WHO is proud to stand behind this initiative, which embodies the values of solidarity, action, innovation, and hope”.
### Impact of US Funding Cut
The US exit from WHO, one of Donald Trump’s first moves in his second term, has forced the agency to introduce austerity measures. The US contributed $1.284 billion to WHO in 2022-2023, about 18 percent of its total budget, surpassing Germany’s $856 million and the EU’s $468 million. The funding cut threatens WHO’s efforts to forge a global pandemic treaty aimed at correcting coordination failures exposed during COVID-19, including vaccine and resource distribution.
Trump’s strained relationship with WHO dates back to the pandemic’s onset when he accused the agency of helping China conceal early cases.
### Moving Forward
The expanded crowdfunding campaign is a strategic shift to diversify funding sources and support WHO’s ongoing mission. By leveraging its existing infrastructure and the WHO Foundation’s reach, the organization aims to create awareness about its critical work and engage communities worldwide.
As WHO continues to navigate these challenges, the global health community remains committed to supporting its efforts to protect and promote health for all.
Stay tuned for more updates on WHO’s initiatives and global health efforts.
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