Luxembourg is to contribute 150,000 euros to the WHO Fund

The Luxembourg Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has announced a contribution of 150,000 euros to the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Fund (CFE). For decades, the country has been a long-term partner of the organisation, providing both mandatory and earmarked extrabudgetary funds. Historically, this financial support has covered areas such as maternal and child health, the fight against tropical diseases and preparedness for epidemics. At the same time, the current contribution is intended to expand Luxembourg’s involvement in the field of operational disaster response, where time is of the essence in providing immediate assistance to affected regions.

The Emergency Response Facility itself was established in 2015 in the wake of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. A distinctive feature of the structure is that it remains the only mechanism enabling the WHO to mobilise funding within the very first hours of a public health threat emerging — even before the crisis is officially recognised as a public health emergency of international concern. The fund is financed exclusively through voluntary contributions and has a target capital of US$100 million.

Despite the financial targets that have been set, the mechanism is constantly facing a shortage of funds, which is directly attributable to the increasing frequency and intensity of modern global disasters. In turn, by providing direct support to the fund, the Government of Luxembourg aims to strengthen the WHO’s core capacity to protect the most vulnerable sections of the population in the event of sudden disease outbreaks, as well as to reaffirm its commitment to the principles of international solidarity.