WHO, IFRC Tap Swiss Federal Funds For New Buildings

The World Health Organization and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent have received approval of the Swiss Federal Council to receive millions of Swiss francs in loans for the purpose of planning new buildings in Geneva.

According to a Swiss government release today, WHO will receive CHF 14 million to plan the construction of a new extension for its Geneva headquarters, and the IFRC will receive CHF 5 million to plan the demolition and rebuilding of its Geneva headquarters.

The Federal Council will now submit a request to Parliament for the release of the funds as part of the supplement to the 2014 budget. The loans are interest-free.

Building work on the WHO extension building is expected to begin in early 2017, subject to parliamentary approval, the release said.

Another WHO loan of CHF 140 million toward the total cost of the new buildings is expected at a later date. WHO will complete the new extension building and then renovate its existing main building. The organisation will bear the costs of this renovation, the Swiss said. The new extension building will provide the WHO with 1,100 new offices. It is not clear how this relates to WHO’s recent budget problems or staffing cuts.

For the IFRC, total cost of the project, including rental of temporary space, is estimated at CHF 50 million, including the CHF 5 million for planning. Construction work on the new extended building is scheduled to begin in mid-2016 and to be completed in 2019 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the IFRC, the release said.

“It has been known for some time that the WHO and IFRC buildings are in urgent need of renovation and no longer meet the organisations’ space and energy requirements,” the Council release said. “Furthermore, in view of growing international competition, the repair and maintenance of the real estate infrastructure of international Geneva is particularly important. As set out in the Foreign policy strategy 2012-2015 of the Confederation, the long-term promotion of ‘international Geneva’ and the continual improvement of the framework conditions for international organisations form a cornerstone of Switzerland’s commitment.”