This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) will elect a new director-general. Last September, WHO member states nominated six candidates: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Flavia Bustreo, Philippe Douste-Blazy, David Nabarro, Sania Nishtar and Miklós Szócska. On Jan. 25, the WHO executive board shortlisted three candidates — Ghebreyesus, Nabarro and Nishtar — and in May the World Health Assembly will elect one of those candidates to succeed Margaret Chan.
All the candidates have presented a vision for how they would lead the organization, and we personally know and admire several of them. Ultimately, however, we believe Ghebreyesus is the most qualified for the job. Our endorsement is based on three considerations that are important in any hiring process, and especially for a position such as this: Past achievements, leadership style, and the diversity he or she brings to the table.
With respect to the first consideration, Ghebreyesus has a proven track record of success. As Ethiopia’s health minister from 2005 to 2012, he championed the interests of all the country’s citizens and strengthened primary-care services. He created 3,500 health centers and 16,000 health posts, and dramatically expanded the healthcare workforce by building more medical schools and deploying more than 38,000 community-based health extension workers.
His efforts now serve as a model that other countries seek to emulate as they try to achieve universal health coverage for their citizens. He is the only candidate who has achieved such results at a national level.
Ghebreyesus is also a long-time champion and advocate of gender equality and the rights of women and girls. His efforts to strengthen Ethiopia’s health system played a crucial role in more than doubling the percentage of Ethiopian women with access to contraception, and in reducing maternal mortality by 75 percent.
When Ghebreyesus was Ethiopia’s foreign minister from 2012 to 2016, he gained extensive diplomatic experience, not least by leading negotiations for the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the international community’s plan to finance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This knack for diplomacy is now needed to bring WHO member states together for cooperative action on collective health challenges.
His leadership style is perfectly suited for this role: He speaks last, and encourages others to share their views. He also knows how to spot and nurture talent, and how to bring the best out of the people around him.
He would undoubtedly boost organizational morale and motivate staff to deliver maximum value and efficiency, to the benefit of all member states and their citizens. While he is a receptive listener, he is also decisive, which is an attribute for the leader of the world’s foremost health institution, especially during global public-health emergencies.
Then there is his extensive leadership experience within global health institutions. As board chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria between 2009 and 2011, and as chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership between 2007 and 2009, Ghebreyesus pushed through sweeping changes that dramatically improved both organizations’ operations. He also helped them raise record-breaking financial commitments from donors: $11.7 billion for the Global Fund, and $3 billion for Roll Back Malaria.
This is precisely the kind of experience and expertise that the WHO needs in today’s global health environment, and it explains why the African Union has officially endorsed his candidacy.
Amazingly, in its almost 70-year history, the WHO has never had a director-general from Africa. This fact alone is not a reason to pick a candidate, but in the case of Ghebreyesus, his direct experience working in developing countries makes him uniquely qualified to tackle our toughest global health problems, which tend to hit developing countries the hardest.
It is time to break the WHO’s African-leadership glass ceiling. Sustainable development is truly achievable only when leaders of global institutions are from the communities most affected by those institutions’ work. His candidacy presents the WHO with a historic opportunity, which its executive board should seize.
• Peter A. Singer is CEO of Grand Challenges Canada.
• Jill W. Sheffield is an independent consultant and long-time advocate for women’s health and rights. ©Project Syndicate
