Angola has committed US $8 million to the World Health Organization’s Global Investment Round, reinforcing Africa’s leadership in advocating for stronger international health systems. The pledge was announced by President João Lourenço during his address to the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, where he spoke on behalf of Angola and in his role as Chair of the African Union.
With this move, Angola joins over a dozen African nations backing a shift toward more sustainable and strategic financing for WHO’s operations, which are critical to addressing global health threats, from pandemics to routine care delivery.
President Lourenço emphasized the urgency of reliable and independent financing for WHO, urging member states to scale up both political and financial commitments. “We need an organisation capable of acting swiftly and decisively in the face of emerging health crises,” he said, calling for increased assessed contributions to reduce WHO’s reliance on unpredictable funding sources.
WHO has estimated a funding need of US $11.1 billion for its core programmes over the 2025–2028 period. Current commitments fall short, with only US $4 billion secured—leaving a funding gap of US $7.1 billion.
The Global Investment Round was launched to address this shortfall. It is designed to attract contributions that are predictable, adaptable to changing health needs, and resilient through broader donor participation. To date, more than US $1.6 billion has been pledged worldwide.
Angola’s contribution signals a deeper engagement by African states in shaping the global health agenda—not only as recipients of aid but as key stakeholders in a shared future.
“This is not just a financial gesture; it’s a declaration of Angola’s belief in multilateralism and shared responsibility,” said Dr. Indrajit Hazarika, WHO Representative in Angola. “It shows Africa’s readiness to lead, contribute, and collaborate.”
The WHO Country Office in Angola hailed the pledge as a milestone moment, applauding the government for stepping forward at a time when global health cooperation is under pressure.
As the WHA78 continues, Angola’s leadership stands as a reminder that durable solutions to global health challenges must be built on inclusive, collective investment—and Africa is rising to the occasion.