The World Health Organization is deepening its strategic outreach to philanthropies as it looks to mobilize new support for stronger health systems, more equitable access to care and long-term resilience in countries facing mounting global health pressures.
Philanthropic support, WHO says, has become a vital part of the machinery that helps countries move toward health equity. From vaccine access and pandemic preparedness to primary health care, the organization argues that philanthropic partners can provide not only money, but also expertise, advocacy and the flexibility to back initiatives that governments and traditional funders may struggle to finance alone.
That message was underscored in Singapore, where WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the Philanthropy Asia Summit held from 5 to 7 May 2025. In remarks to the gathering, he thanked the Temasek Foundation and the Philanthropy Asia Alliance for organizing the summit and highlighted what he described as the growing importance of philanthropy in strengthening global health, supporting country self-reliance and partnering with WHO to confront health challenges in a world he characterized as increasingly turbulent.
Dr Tedros also used the platform to recognize Singapore's role in global health diplomacy. He thanked His Excellency President Tharman and Singapore for what he called the country's leadership in global health and its support to WHO. He noted that Singapore and the Temasek Foundation were among the first to pledge support to WHO's Investment Round, a fundraising effort designed to broaden the agency's donor base and secure more predictable backing for its priorities.
"We look forward to your continued leadership and partnership as we work together to realize WHO's founding vision: the highest attainable standard of health – not as a luxury for some, but a right for all," Dr Tedros said.
The appeal reflects a broader shift in how WHO is approaching financing and partnerships. During the Investment Round, the agency has sought to expand beyond its traditional funding channels and engage more strategically with philanthropic organizations. The logic is straightforward: if WHO is to help countries build durable health systems, it needs partners willing to support both immediate interventions and the slower, less visible work of system strengthening.
That includes investments in essential health services, which WHO says are central to sustainable progress toward universal health coverage. Philanthropic actors, according to the organization, can help fill gaps, catalyze innovation and complement the work of governments, international organizations and other stakeholders across the global health ecosystem.
The role of philanthropy is especially significant in areas where funding is uncertain or the risks are high. WHO says philanthropic support can be particularly effective in backing innovative research that may not attract traditional financing, especially when the work is exploratory, long-term or aimed at solutions that are not yet commercially viable. That can include research tied to new vaccines, health technologies, delivery models and preparedness tools.
Beyond financing, philanthropic organizations are also seen as influential advocates. WHO says they can help raise awareness, shape public debate and push for policies that improve health outcomes, reduce disparities and promote equity. In a global environment marked by conflict, climate stress, economic strain and the lingering threat of future pandemics, that advocacy role is increasingly important.
The organization's outreach to philanthropies also fits within its broader strategic framework. Looking ahead, WHO says collaboration with philanthropic actors will remain central to achieving the goals set out in its Fourteenth General Programme of Work. That agenda emphasizes stronger health systems, better preparedness and more equitable access to care, all of which depend on sustained partnerships across sectors.
For WHO, the message from Singapore was not simply about fundraising. It was about building a coalition capable of delivering health gains at scale, especially in countries where public systems remain under pressure and where external support can determine whether reforms take root. By working with philanthropies, WHO is betting it can leverage the strengths of a wider range of global health players and maximize impact where it matters most: in the lives of people who still lack reliable access to basic care.
As Dr Tedros framed it, the goal remains the same as it was at WHO's founding: health as a right, not a privilege. The challenge now is finding the partnerships and resources to make that principle real in an era of growing uncertainty.