By Michael Gwarisa
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a major overhaul of its leadership and internal structure, reflecting a decisive push to improve cost efficiency and sharpen its focus on core health priorities.
Speaking from Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus laid out the scale of the transformation, which includes deep organizational restructuring and significant reductions in staff numbers.
In short, we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to improve cost efficiency,” said Dr Tedros. “But even so, the hard truth is that we need to reduce salary expenditures by 25%.”
The restructuring includes a reduction in senior management roles from 14 to 7 and a streamlining of departments at headquarters from 76 to 34. The changes are part of a prioritization exercise that aims to align WHO’s resources more closely with its core mandates while adapting to the financial realities it currently faces.
“This was, as you can imagine, an extremely difficult and painful decision for me, as it is for every manager in our organization who is having to decide who stays, and who goes,” Dr Tedros said. “We are saying goodbye to a significant number of highly experienced, capable and dedicated members of our workforce. That means careers interrupted and lives disrupted.”
While the most substantial staff reductions are expected at headquarters, regional offices will also undergo changes to varying degrees. The regional structures, Dr Tedros said, are being finalized in alignment with the streamlined headquarters model. Country offices, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, will remain a priority, although some offices in high-income countries are slated for closure.
To support affected staff, WHO has rolled out a series of support mechanisms aimed at assisting both practically and psychologically. “We are committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of all our colleagues during this difficult period,” said Dr Tedros.
Alongside these challenging decisions, WHO unveiled its new Executive Management Team, set to take effect from June 16, 2025. The new leadership lineup reflects a commitment to gender balance and geographical diversity:
-
Dr Jeremy Farrar, currently Chief Scientist, will become Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control.
-
Dr Yukiko Nakatani will serve as Assistant Director-General for Health Systems.
-
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu will take on the role of Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme.
-
Dr Sylvie Briand has been appointed Chief Scientist, succeeding Dr Farrar.
-
Dr Razia Pendse will continue as Chef de Cabinet.
-
Mr Raul Thomas remains Assistant Director-General for Business Operations and Compliance.
“This new team has been chosen after very careful consideration, and I thank the outgoing members of our senior leadership team for their dedication, leadership and service. I wish them every success in the next chapter of their lives and careers,” Dr Tedros said.
The announcement comes at a critical moment, as WHO embarks on implementing its 14th General Programme of Work (GPW 14), with revised goals reflecting the organization’s new operational capacity. Dr Tedros warned that downsizing will inevitably impact the scope and scale of WHO’s activities.
“Let’s be clear: reducing the scale of our workforce means reducing the scale and scope of our work, and where necessary, adjusting the targets of the 14th General Programme of Work,” he said. “We cannot do everything.”
He urged Member States to support WHO in focusing on its core functions and to avoid burdening the organization with new mandates at a time of constrained resources.
“Time and again, Member States have emphasized the importance of maintaining our focus on core functions,” he added. “We therefore seek your support in refraining from adding more work while we scale down to deliver on what matters most.”
Despite the challenges, Dr Tedros expressed confidence in the newly appointed leadership and the streamlined structure, emphasizing that WHO is now better positioned to meet the global health challenges of the coming years.
