Health ministers from the Group of 20 gathered in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday threw their weight behind the World Health Organization's first Investment Round, a financing drive the agency says is essential to support its new global health strategy and help save 40 million lives.
Meeting under Brazil's chairmanship, the ministers called on all Member States and partners to contribute to the effort and signaled that the issue is likely to return to the center of diplomatic attention at the G20 Leaders' Summit on 18-19 November, when additional pledges are expected from major economies and other attendees.
The appeal comes as the WHO seeks more predictable and flexible funding to reduce its dependence on tightly earmarked donations, a long-running vulnerability that has often constrained the agency's ability to respond quickly to health emergencies and long-term priorities. The Investment Round is being presented by WHO as a cornerstone of its new strategy, with the organization arguing that stronger financing will allow it to deliver more consistently across countries and regions.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the response so far has been encouraging, but stressed that the agency still needs broader participation. "I have asked every Member State and partner to participate in the Investment Round, according to its means. So far, we have 63 pledges, worth more than one billion US dollars," he said. "Of these pledges, more than half are from first-time voluntary contributors, including many from the African, Western Pacific and South-East Asian regions. Every contribution counts. Some of the world's poorest countries have pledged, because they see first-hand the difference that WHO makes."
Tedros thanked the countries and organizations attending the meeting that have already pledged support, naming Germany, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye, the European Union and the Wellcome Trust. The breadth of those commitments, he suggested, reflects a growing recognition that WHO's work is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a practical investment in global stability.
Brazil's Health Minister Nísia Trindade used the meeting to frame the financing debate as a test of political will. "We need a strong WHO to accomplish its mandate and we call on everyone to contribute to the financial sustainability of the WHO, including by pledging at the G20 Leaders' Summit," she said. Brazil, which is hosting the G20 this year, has placed multilateral cooperation and global health financing among the visible priorities of its presidency.
Germany's Health Minister Dr Karl Lauterbach echoed that message, arguing that the organization's effectiveness depends on stable resources rather than ad hoc generosity. "A strong WHO is essential for the world. Resilient sustainable financing is essential for WHO. Financing WHO means investing in a healthier future. We call on all G20 partners to stand by their political commitments for WHO. To walk the talk and to increase their predictable and flexible financial support to WHO," he said.
The ministers also welcomed an announcement from South Africa's Health Minister, Dr Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, who said his country would carry the financing effort forward when it assumes the G20 presidency next year. South Africa, the ministers said, is "dedicated to carry forward the sustainable financing journey of the World Health Organization into our presidency of the G20 in the coming year. We are carrying forward the baton from Brazil."
That pledge suggests the campaign for WHO funding is becoming a multi-year diplomatic project rather than a one-off fundraising appeal. With the November summit approaching, the organization and its supporters are now looking to convert political endorsements into concrete commitments from the world's largest economies.
For WHO, the stakes are high. The agency is asking governments and partners not merely to donate, but to provide funding that is more dependable and less restricted, giving it the flexibility to plan ahead and respond to crises. The Rio meeting showed that the message is resonating among health ministers. The question now is whether that support will translate into larger pledges when heads of state and government gather in November.