Six reforms to make WHO ready for the future (4/6)

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Published: 2026-05-20 | Updated: 2026-05-20

Reform 4: Strengthen technical excellence and workforce.

In The Lancet (April 2026), Anders Nordström, John Nkengasong, Peter Piot, Magda Robalo Correia e Silva, Ala Alwan, Ethel L Maciel, Ren Minghui, and Michel Kazatchkine lay out the case for focused, ambitious reform.

WHO must improve technical capacity by attracting and retaining top talent through transparent recruitment and stronger performance management. Staff rotation across headquarters and regions should be expanded to distribute expertise more effectively, and senior staff should be deployed closer to country-level needs. Open and competitive recruitment for senior leadership is essential to building credibility and trust.

Read more: https://www.globalhealthdiplomacy.se/who-worth-fighting-for-authors-make-the-case-for-ambitious-reform