Alarm as WHO accepts increasing amount of dark money from corporate donors

"The World Health Organization Foundation took an increasing amount of dark money from corporate donors during the three years since its 2020 inception, research has shown, raising concerns among some experts and campaigners that big business is playing a larger role shaping the institution's policies. Through the end of 2023, the last year for which records were available, the foundation had taken about $83m in corporate donations,"

"and concealed the identity of donors for about 60% of the sum, a new report into the issue states. The level of dark money donations are increasing each year 80% of the foundation's funding in 2023 came from anonymous sources who made contributions of at least $100,000, up from 15% during the first year, the report's authors found. The WHO publicly lists broad earmarks for the donations, such as Covid, but the largest earmark is for operational costs, which critics say is a nebulous term."

The WHO Foundation increased acceptance of anonymous corporate donations after its 2020 inception. Through the end of 2023 the foundation took about $83m in corporate donations and concealed donor identities for roughly 60% of that sum. In 2023, 80% of the foundation's funding came from anonymous sources contributing at least $100,000, up from 15% in its first year. The WHO assigns broad earmarks such as Covid, with the largest earmark listed as operational costs, a designation critics call nebulous. Low donor transparency creates risks of perceived reputational damage or undue influence. Publicly disclosed corporate gifts often reflect donor priorities rather than WHO priorities, and the US cessation of funding increases reliance on corporate contributions, while member states and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation remain primary funders.

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