Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia's Health Minister and a candidate for the Director-General position at the World Health Organization (WHO), is advocating for a significant shift in the agency's funding model. Drawing on his past experience as a banker and CEO of Indonesia's largest financial institution, Bank Mandiri, Sadikin believes the WHO can tap into more diverse and sustainable financial resources beyond traditional government contributions. He aims to secure an ambitious target of $7 billion in sustainable financing over a four-year period for the WHO's core operations, moving away from volatile, earmarked voluntary contributions. This strategy is designed to enhance the organization's operational capacity, improve proactive disease surveillance, and ensure equitable health interventions globally.
Sadikin's candidacy comes at a critical time for the WHO, which has faced significant financial turmoil, including the loss of over 2,300 jobs since early 2025 due to funding cuts. The United States' withdrawal in March, which left approximately $260 million in unpaid membership dues, highlighted the agency's vulnerability to traditional funding models. Sadikin's proposal to broaden the donor base and attract new funding sources, including potential partnerships with the private sector and philanthropic foundations, is seen as a key solution to address these challenges. His financial acumen is considered a unique asset among the candidates, as the agency navigates its funding crisis and seeks to implement its new global health strategy.
The WHO has already initiated an Investment Round, an innovative funding mechanism to broaden its donor base. To date, this initiative has secured 63 distinct financial pledges totaling more than $1 billion, with over half of these contributions coming from first-time voluntary donors, including low and middle-income countries. Sadikin's vision aligns with this effort, emphasizing the need for predictable, flexible funding to enable the WHO to achieve its strategic goals, such as saving an estimated 40 million lives worldwide. His approach suggests a more business-like management of the WHO's finances, aiming to make the organization more resilient and effective in responding to global health emergencies.
