WHO and the effects of extrabudgetary funds: is the Organization donor driven?

The findings and conclusions of an international policy study are presented on the effects of donors and their voluntary financial contributions upon the World Health Organization. Such extrabudgetary funds now account for over a half of the total expenditure of the Organization and more than 80% of these funds come from a small group of 10 industrialized donor countries. This has led to widespread concerns that the Organization is being ‘donor driven’ and that powerful countries are unduly influencing the priorities of the Organization and the management of its programmes. With reference to such extrabudgetary funds, the study concluded that: a) they have given essential support to international health research; b) they have enabled WHO to be a more effective…