We bring you a primer ahead of the World Health Assembly that begins in Geneva next week.

This edition gets you up to speed on the implications of what the restructuring and realignment at the WHO has meant for the organization's mandate as a result of deep funding cuts in 2025. Indicators on finance and staffing have implications for governance in the context of such a realignment of the organization's priorities. Countries will review these matters next week at the Assembly. This edition includes an update on the elections process for the next Director-General of the WHO.

We hope you find this handy to have a quick look at the essentials before Assembly begins. This is Part I of a two part-primer. More from us in the coming days.