Health

Strengthening public health across Lebanon with EIB Global

Published: August 16, 2026

Strengthening public health across Lebanon with EIB Global

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Thomas Östros, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB Global), met at the EIB Group Forum in Luxembourg and signed an agreement for a €10 million grant to strengthen public health across Lebanon. The initiative will re-establish Lebanon's Central Public Health Laboratory and prioritize medication provision and healthcare support to over 50 000 people with chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and cancer

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Reported by 10 sources
First reported: August 16, 2026
Sources: WHO News, UN News, CoinDesk, Crypto Daily

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The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have renewed their strategic partnership in addressing the growing impacts of climate change on global health.The Netherlands is providing a new allocation of €500 000 for 2024 to WHO, reinforcing its commitment to climate resilience and sustainable healthcare systems worldwide. This allocation supports WHO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health Secretariat and advance climate change and health programmes globally.This contribution builds on the partnership established in 2023 between the Netherlands and WHO to collaborate on climate change and health. Together, they have supported African, Asian and Eastern Mediterranean countries in advancing the implementation of integrated climate and health surveillance and early warning systems, enhancing capacity to deliver on COP26 health commitments, helping harmonize early warning systems for health-related climate risks, and empowering countries to advance climate-resilient health system readiness.This partnership along with the support from other organizations is pivotal in assisting Member States in developing climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems. Engaging with relevant partners, including civil society, Multilateral Development Banks, UN Agencies, and health professionals in concerted action on climate change and health, is also a core activity.The Netherlands has been at the forefront of advocating climate action in health, aligned with the Dutch Global Health Strategy 2023-2030 which emphasizes the intersection of climate change and health. In addition, the Netherlands, together with Peru, led the adoption in 2024 of the World Health Assembly 77 Resolution on Climate Change and Health at the to renew the current one from 2008. Recognizing the increasing urgency and the need for accelerated efforts, the resolution calls for a WHO global action plan, increased national efforts and mainstreaming of climate change and health in WHO’s new Fourteenth General Programme of Work.The partnership’s renewal brings the total support from the Netherlands to WHO activities on climate change and health to over €1.1 Million since 2023 and comes at a crucial time as countries face increasing health challenges from climate change and as the global health community gears up for discussions on climate change and health at COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024. Climate change will continue to be a key priority area in the new GPW, and where WHO’s work in collaboration with Member States and partners will result in 7.5 million lives saved in the next four years, as estimated in WHO’s latest Investment case.The Netherlands and WHO will continue to leverage their partnership to ensure that health remains central to climate negotiations and actions. A focus on building resilience in vulnerable regions and empowering countries to implement sustainable, low-carbon healthcare solutions remains central.WHO-trained Rapid Responders evaluating flash flood aftermath in Mai Mahiu region in Kenya 29 April. From March to May 2024, the country experienced exceptionally heavy rains, leading to widespread devastation, including fatalities, disease outbreaks, and severe infrastructure damage. Photo: WHO/Genna Print

The WHO-India donor agreement is part of a US$ 250 million investment from India in support of the establishment of the WHO Global Centre of Traditional Medicine in 2022, which includes financial support for the workplan of the Centre, interim premises and a new building. This support will scale up WHO’s capacities on traditional medicine across technical divisions and regions in the spirit of global collaboration and solidarity. Part of this substantial contribution from the Government of India will also be included in WHO’s Investment Round to resource WHO’s core work during 2025–2028.

The World Health Organization has released "The Role of Parliaments and Parliamentarians in Strengthening Health Security Preparedness", an online training course. This essential resource aims to equip parliamentarians with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance global health security efforts.

WHO and Netherlands Strategic Dialogue in The Hague, Netherlands 10 April 2024. Credit: Michel Mees PhotographyThe WHO and the Netherlands convened in The Hague on 10 April 2024, to discuss joint priorities and alignment between the Dutch Global Health Strategy and WHO’s key strategic goals, marking a new milestone in their longstanding partnership.Rooted in the Netherlands' unwavering commitment to global health, human rights, and universal access to comprehensive health services, the collaboration between the WHO and the Netherlands is instrumental in addressing global health challenges and fostering health and well-being, worldwide and in the country.Against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts, disasters, and the escalating impact of climate change, and the interconnectedness of the Dutch public health landscape in the Netherlands with global health challenges, this year’s Strategic Dialogue emerged as a critical platform for reflecting on this partnership’s long-term vision.“In this Strategic Dialogue, throughout all sessions, WHO and the Netherlands showed a commitment to cooperation and to deepening their partnership based on the strong alignment between their respective priorities and objectives”, said Ms Marjolijn Sonnema, Director General for Public Health at the Netherlands’ Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.A key outcome of the Strategic Dialogue was the recognition of the alignment between the Dutch Global Health Strategy and the WHO's forthcoming 14th General Programme of Work, paving the way for synergies in areas such as health system strengthening, pandemic preparedness, climate change and health, anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and mental health support."At a time when inequity in health and in access to essential health services and financial protection is increasing, disproportionately impacting the poor and most vulnerable, the Netherlands stands as a global health leader and trusted WHO partner. With shared priorities and commitment to sexual and reproductive rights, gender equity, health systems, security, climate resilience, and mental health, we look forward to strengthening our partnership to enhance the health and well-being of all, globally and in the Netherlands", said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Life Course.WHO acknowledged the Netherlands' global leadership as a flexible donor, with an agreement around the imperative to ensure WHO's financing is more sustainable, through the inaugural WHO Investment Round. This WHO initiative aims to mobilize predictable, sustainable and flexible resources essential for the WHO to respond swiftly and effectively to global health challenges and improve health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.Addressing contemporary challenges such as geopolitical tensions while seizing opportunities for advancing global health objectives were also on the table during the dialogue. Both parties stressed the importance of sustained collaboration to address pressing health issues comprehensively.Taking stock of the joint achievements since the previous strategic dialogue in 2022In 2022, the Strategic Dialogue between the Netherlands and WHO called on both partners to enhance synergies between WHO priorities and the new Dutch Global Health Strategy. Implementing this approach, the Netherlands and WHO:Expanded their cooperation to new areas of joint interest, e.g., climate change and health;Renewed their longstanding cooperation on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in health emergencies and humanitarian settings;Improved the flexibility and predictability of the Netherlands’ financial support through renewed General Arrangements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2022-2025) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (2024–2028) demonstrating the Netherlands’ commitment to WHO’s sustainable financing; Hosted together the 2nd World Local Production Forum in the Netherlands;Continued and deepened their technical cooperation through secondments, Junior Professional Officers and the Collaborative Centres.Show less Show moreThe outcomes of the 2024 dialogue will inform future collaboration between the Netherlands and the WHO, so that efforts are aligned, and the optimal use of resources is helps achieve improved health outcomes worldwide. The enduring partnership between the Netherlands and the WHO stands as a cornerstone in the global health landscape, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing health and well-being globally.-----------------The Netherlands is a key supporter and strategic partner of the WHO.In 2022- 2023, the Netherlands was one of the top five flexible WHO contributors with nearly US$ 19 million in core voluntary contributions. Overall, the Netherlands contributed more than US$ 106 million to the WHO in 2022 - 2023, of which US$ 93 million, nearly 90%, was voluntary funding.The Netherlands also supports the WHO's technical expertise through secondments of staff and helps boost young people's careers in public health via the WHO's Junior Professional Officer Programme.This demonstrates the Netherlands' commitment through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to the WHO’s central role in the global health architecture.Through this support, the Netherlands contributes to crucial activities in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, water and sanitation, mental health in emergencies, emergency preparedness, tuberculosis, One Health, primary health care, antimicrobial resistance, while facilitating cooperation with top Dutch institutions.See more information on the partnership between Netherlands and WHO.

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