South Africa commits to continue advancing WHO’s sustainable financing journey under its upcoming G20 presidency

Ministers of health expressed their support for WHO's Investment Round during a G20 meeting chaired by Brazil held today in Rio de Janeiro.   

The ministers called on all Member States and partners to contribute to WHO’s first Investment Round to fund its new strategy for global health to improve the lives of billions of people, and save 40 million lives, and looked forward to further pledges from G20 members at the Leaders’ Summit on 18-19 November.  

Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “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. 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.” The Director-General went on to thank the Member States and partners attending the meeting which had already pledged: Germany, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye, the European Union, and the Wellcome Trust.