Amid cuts in humanitarian aid, the world leader has taken the initiative to come forward and contribute to healthcare facilities, pledging to fund $1.9 billion for the eradication of the polio disease.
The decision came on Monday, December 8, 2025, as world leaders announced a partnership for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative GPEI to protect 370 million children annually from polio, amid significant budget cuts.
In addition, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a partnership that includes the World Health Organization WHO and the Gates Foundation, is expected to have its budget cut by 30% in 2026 and face a funding gap of $1.7 billion through 2029.
The shortage is largely due to a global withdrawal from foreign aid, led by the US, which is withdrawing from the WHO, although future polio funding has not yet been finalized. Other wealthy donor governments such as Germany and Britain have also made cuts.
As reported by Reuters, In response, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative GPEI Partners plan to increase their focus on surveillance and vaccination in areas at high risk of polio transmission.
The donor event, organized by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, will reduce the remaining funding gap for the GPEI strategy for 2022 to 2029 to US$440 million.
Pledges were made by a diverse group of donors and countries, including $1.2 billion from the Gates Foundation and $450 million from Rotary International.
“The new support pledged in Abu Dhabi will be instrumental in helping GPEI reach all children in the last endemic countries and stop variant polio outbreaks around the world.” said Tedros Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization.
Director General of the World Health Organization WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, informed: “The new support pledged in Abu Dhabi will play a major role in helping the GPEI reach all children in the final endemic countries and stop variant polio outbreaks around the world.”
