Verfassungsblog (Mar 2024)

Closing the Accountability Gap - The Role of Consultants in WHO Reform

  • Tine Hanrieder,
  • Julian Eckl

DOI
https://doi.org/10.59704/f618747c121ff885
Journal volume & issue
no. 2366-7044

Abstract

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In their latest ‘WHO transformation’ (which began in 2017), the WHO hired at least six consulting firms, praised by the Director-General as the ‘best firms in the world’. Despite their prominent role in WHO processes and reform efforts, there is a clear accountability gap in their role at WHO. Consultant engagement contributes to a trend towards informal governance and public-private collusions in an organization that looks less and less like a public authority.

Keywords