WHO warns $1.7bn funding shortfall threatens polio eradication efforts – Al Jazeera

Report on Funding Shortfalls Impacting Global Polio Eradication and Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Threat to SDG 3

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is facing a severe funding crisis that directly threatens the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). A projected budget reduction of 30 percent in 2026 and a funding gap of $1.7 billion through 2029 will force a reduction in essential activities, jeopardizing decades of progress toward eradicating polio, a key target under SDG 3.3 (end the epidemics of communicable diseases).

Financial Challenges and Impact on SDG 17

The funding shortfall highlights a critical challenge to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The GPEI, a partnership including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gates Foundation, is experiencing a decline in contributions from key international partners.

• Primary Cause: Reduced foreign aid contributions.
• Key Donors Reducing Funding:
  • United States
  • Germany
  • United Kingdom

Jamal Ahmed, the WHO’s director of polio eradication, stated, “The significant reductions in funding … mean that certain activities will simply not happen.” This weakening of global partnerships puts the collective goal of a polio-free world at risk.

Strategic Readjustments and Operational Impact

In response to the financial constraints, the GPEI will implement strategic adjustments to prioritize resources. These measures aim to sustain core functions critical to SDG 3 while acknowledging the reduced operational capacity.

1. Resource Concentration: Efforts will be focused on surveillance and vaccination in high-risk, endemic regions.
2. Operational Integration: The initiative will enhance collaboration with other health campaigns, such as measles programmes, to maximize efficiency.
3. Innovative Dosing: Adoption of fractional dosing strategies will be used to extend limited vaccine supplies, using as little as one-fifth of a standard dose to protect children.
4. Service Reduction: Operations in lower-risk regions will be scaled back unless a new outbreak is detected.

Global Polio Status and Implications for SDGs 1 and 10

Despite progress, the persistence of polio underscores the importance of sustained efforts for achieving not only SDG 3 but also SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as the disease disproportionately affects vulnerable children in impoverished communities.

Current Case Report (2025)

• Wild Polio: 36 cases reported in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two remaining endemic countries.
• Vaccine-Derived Polio: 149 cases recorded in various countries, including Nigeria. This occurs when the weakened virus from oral vaccines mutates and spreads in under-immunised populations.

While total cases have declined since 2024, the funding gap threatens to reverse this trend. Failure to eradicate polio would perpetuate a cycle of disease and poverty, undermining broader development goals. Continued commitment from all partners is essential to ensure that no child is left behind and to secure the global health gains achieved over the past decades.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the most direct SDG connection, as the entire article focuses on the global effort to eradicate polio, a communicable disease. The discussion revolves around vaccination campaigns, disease surveillance, and the health implications of funding shortfalls for children in high-risk areas.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article heavily emphasizes the financial and collaborative aspects of the polio eradication effort. It details the role of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a multi-stakeholder partnership, and highlights the challenges posed by a “$1.7bn funding gap” resulting from “reduced foreign aid” from major donor countries like the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 3.3: End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
     • The article is entirely focused on the goal to “eradicate polio,” which is a communicable disease. It explicitly states that “Polio eradication has been a global health goal for decades” and discusses the persistence of the virus in endemic countries.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
     • The article discusses “mass vaccination” as the primary strategy to combat polio. The GPEI’s plan to adopt “fractional dosing” to “stretch supplies while still protecting children” is a direct response to ensuring continued access to essential vaccines despite budget cuts.
   • Target 17.2: Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments.
     • The article directly addresses the failure to meet financial commitments, stating that the funding shortfall “is largely driven by reduced foreign aid, particularly from the United States… Other major donors, including Germany and the United Kingdom, have similarly reduced contributions.” This points to a gap in official development assistance for global health initiatives.
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
     • The article identifies the “Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)” as a “coalition including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gates Foundation,” which is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership working towards a global goal. The funding crisis threatens the effectiveness of this partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators:

   • Indicator for Target 3.3 (Incidence of communicable diseases): The article provides specific data points that serve as direct indicators of polio incidence.
     • “In 2025, there have been 36 reported cases of wild polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
     • “149 cases of vaccine-derived polio have been recorded in countries, including Nigeria.”
     • It also provides a trend analysis, stating that “Cases of both wild and vaccine-derived polio have declined since 2024.”
   • Indicator for Target 3.8 (Vaccine coverage): While not providing a specific percentage, the article implies vaccination coverage is a key metric. It mentions “mass vaccination since 1988” and the GPEI’s continued focus on “vaccination in high-risk areas” as core activities. The success of these activities would be measured by the number of children vaccinated.
   • Indicator for Target 17.2 (Volume of official development assistance): The article provides clear financial figures that act as indicators for the level of funding and the gap in development assistance.
     • A “$1.7bn funding gap through 2029.”
     • A “30 percent budget reduction in 2026.”
     • These figures quantify the reduction in financial resources from donor countries.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.3: End the epidemics of… communicable diseases.	Number of wild polio cases (36 in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2025). Number of vaccine-derived polio cases (149 recorded). Trend in polio cases (declined since 2024).
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage… access to… essential medicines and vaccines for all.	Implementation of “mass vaccination” campaigns. Adoption of strategies like “fractional dosing” to maintain vaccine access.
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	Target 17.2: Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments.	A “$1.7bn funding gap” for the GPEI. A “30 percent budget reduction” in 2026. Mention of “reduced foreign aid” from the US, Germany, and the UK.
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development… complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.	The existence and operation of the “Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a coalition including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gates Foundation.”

Source: aljazeera.com