The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its first-ever Investment Round, as part of a broader plan to transform the way the Organization is funded heading into an era of climate change, mass migration, pandemic threats, an ageing world population, and turbulent geopolitics.

The launch marks the start of a year-long series of engagements and events, co-hosted by countries, where Member States and other donors will be invited to contribute funds to WHO’s strategy for 2025 through 2028 and show high-level political commitment to WHO and global health.

The Investment Round will culminate in November with a major pledging event to be hosted by Brazil around the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The Government of Brazil announced that as part of its G20 presidency, the country will host high-level events including at the Leaders’ Summit in November to support the Investment Round and rally countries to join the initiative.

Qatar Minister of Health Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari announced a contribution of $ 4 million in fully flexible funds to the Investment Round, and an intention to contribute further.

France, Germany, and Norway announced that they would serve as co-hosts for the Investment Round.

Further statements of support for the Investment Round came from Dr Gabriel Leung representing the Institute of Philanthropy, and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is WHO’s Ambassador for Global Health Financing.

Holding an Investment Round was one of the key recommendations put forward by the Member State-led WHO Working Group on Sustainable Financing and approved by Member States to make WHO a predictably, sustainably, flexibly funded organization. Member States have also approved an increase in their assessed contributions, on the pathway to providing 50% of WHO’s base budget by 2030.

With the Investment Round, WHO is seeking to expand its donor base by mobilising new contributions from the WHO Member States that have not yet provided voluntary contributions and by tapping into new private sector donors through the WHO Foundation.