Policy Updates

On June 30, 2026, Germany launched a South‑North Commission on Development during the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, co‑chaired by former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, to convene about twenty high‑level members and inform international reforms, with first interim outcomes in 2027 and a final report in 2028.

Co‑Chairs Olaf Scholz and Laura Chinchilla will convene a balanced group of around twenty representatives from politics, the private sector, academia, international organizations, and civil society to co‑develop solutions and reduce polarization, with agenda‑setting and decisions shared equally between South and North.

The mandate emphasizes strengthening multilateralism and new partnerships, contributing to a post‑2030 development agenda aligned to the UN 2030 Agenda, and informing future directions for Germany’s development policy. Regular meetings will be complemented by regional consultations in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

The Commission will start work in mid‑2026, participate in major events including the Hamburg Sustainability Conference and the UN SDG Summit, present interim outcomes in 2027 in the context of the SDG Summit and the 50th anniversary of the first North‑South Commission, and deliver a detailed final report by end‑2028.

On June 26, 2026, Sweden increased its 2026 contribution to the Global Fund by SEK70 million (US$7 million), raising its total 2026 contribution from SEK683 million (US$68 million) to SEK753 million (US$75 million), an increase of more than 10%.

The Global Fund welcomed Sweden’s additional contribution toward the Eighth Replenishment, indicating the investment would expand access to prevention, treatment, and care for HIV, TB, and malaria with a focus on equity and reaching vulnerable populations, while strengthening health and community systems.

The Global Fund noted Sweden’s contribution will also bolster frontline health capacities in countries facing overlapping threats, including support for outbreak responses such as Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and sustain essential services where HIV, TB, and malaria remain leading causes of illness and death. the Global Fund also underscored that these investments strengthen global health security and pandemic preparedness as partner countries leverage Global Fund–supported systems

On June 24, 2026, Switzerland’s Federal Council set parameters for the 2029–32 international cooperation strategy, keeping the budget near CHF2.4 billion (US$3.0 billion) per year while targeting savings of about CHF20 million (US$25 million) annually from 2027 and increasing humanitarian aid’s share from ~26% to ~40%.

At its meeting on June 24, 2026, the Federal Council directed the FDFA and EAER to draft a consultation document for the International Cooperation Strategy 2029–32 and adopted a clearer division of labor between the SDC and SECO.

Responsibilities will follow a “one country, one department” principle with tighter geographic and thematic focus: SDC will concentrate on low-income countries, primarily in Africa and parts of Asia, focusing on health, rule of law, climate, and migration, while SECO will work with middle-income countries, the EU, the Western Balkans, and selected Asian countries on private sector development, inclusive growth, sustainable value chains, and diversification.

Meanwhile, humanitarian aid will prioritize acute crises and emergency response, with targeted measures for protracted contexts. Support to multilaterals will follow criteria tied to strategy alignment, Switzerland’s influence, and host-country policy coherence.

Between 2027 and 2030, total savings of about CHF113 million (US$139 million) are expected, alongside a workforce reduction of roughly 100 posts. Operational responsibility for Switzerland’s cohesion contribution to selected EU member states will shift to EAER from 2028, with FDFA retaining foreign policy roles.

In response, a number of Swiss foundations including Fondation Botnar, the Jacobs Foundation, the Swiss Re Foundation, the Z Zurich Foundation, LGT Venture Philanthropy, and many others endorsed a joint statement expressing concern that a significant shift toward short-term crisis response and humanitarian aid may come at the expense of long-term development cooperation.

Notably, the statement underscored that humanitarian aid is indispensable but argued that sustained public investment in education, health, climate action, economic opportunity, and effective institutions is critical to reduce poverty and fragility and cannot be replaced by philanthropy. Finally, it has called on the Federal Council and Parliament to preserve Switzerland’s strengths in international cooperation and continue investing in approaches that promote peace, resilience, and sustainable development.

On June 16, 2026, the US announced more than US$1 billion in humanitarian and disaster response assistance to UNICEF and WFP, with more than US$218 million for UNICEF and more than US$800 million for WFP, through new global macro awards supporting assistance in more than 40 countries.

The US Department of State said the awards built on the December 2025 Humanitarian Reset memorandum of understanding with OCHA. The awards are the second and third in a new series of global State Department awards to vetted implementing organizations.

According to the State Department, UNICEF and WFP will use the funding to provide support across food, nutrition, health, child protection, logistics, and water and sanitation in countries with significant humanitarian needs, including Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine. The Department said the funding would also strengthen rapid disaster response by allowing implementers to pre-position resources, maintain staffing, and respond more quickly to sudden-onset crises and worsening needs in ongoing emergencies.

For more insights on donor commitments to multilaterals, explore our Multilateral Funding Tracker

On June 15, 2026, Sweden announced SEK30 million (US$3 million) for 2026-2028 from the Swedish ODA budget, including SEK17 million (US$2 million) for 2026, to support democratic development, civil society, and independent media in Eastern Europe, with a focus on reducing Russian influence and strengthening ties with the EU.

The Swedish government said the package will support well-established civil society organizations in Europe and strengthen democratic development in Eastern European countries, targeting civil society and independent media as key components of democratic resilience.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa said democracy in Sweden’s neighborhood remains a major foreign and security policy priority and that Sweden will continue long-term support for Eastern European countries seeking democratic development, independence from Russian influence, and closer relations with the EU.

On June 15, 2026, Sweden announced SEK120 million (US$12.6 million) to WHO, focusing on the ongoing Ebola outbreak via strengthened global health security and scaled up emergency operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated the contribution was intended to bolster a rapid response to contain the outbreak and save lives. Meanwhile, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed said the WHO’s coordinating role was central to the response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that the funding would help the organization expand operations in affected countries.

On June 12, 2026, Canada announced CAD100 million (US$72 million) to UN, Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGO partners to deliver international assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, bringing Canada's total contributions to international assistance efforts in Palestine to more than CAD500 million (US$360 million).

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand announced the funding in Paris as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank continue to worsen. The funding will provide emergency medical assistance, food and nutrition, water, sanitation, shelter, and protection services, while also supporting peace and stabilization initiatives.

On June 11, 2026, Canada announced CAD5 million (US$3.5 million) over four years to Right To Play International to expand play- and sport-based basic education for children and youth across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, with programming expected to reach around 60,000 children and youth, as well as coaches, teachers, and community facilitators.

Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced the funding in Toronto on the International Day of Play ahead of Canada’s first FIFA World Cup 2026 match. Canada said the investment supported the No Child on the Sidelines project, implemented by Right To Play International in collaboration with Global Citizen, to strengthen locally led education programming for children and youths in LMICs.

The funding also supports subgrants to civil society organizations to scale and sustain community-based programming that promote learning, protection, and well-being. Canada said the investment aligns with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund campaign, which aims to mobilize US$100 million for education and sport-based learning globally, and would help leverage additional financing and partnerships.

Australia has committed AUD5 million (US$3.5 million) on June 4, 2026 to support the global response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for International Development, Small Business, and Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly said the funding reflects Australian commitment to global health security and to preventing outbreaks from escalating into wider crises. The funding is being channeled through the IFRC and WHO to provide medical care, supplies, water and sanitation services, outbreak surveillance, preparedness support, and stronger local health systems.

On June 2, 2026, former Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg was elected Chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2026-2029.

Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust said Solberg helped raise global health and sustainable development on the international agenda during her term as prime minister from 2013-2021, making her well-positioned for the role.

During Solberg’s time in office, CEPI was established to strengthen global preparedness for pandemics and provided support to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to expand access to vaccines in low-income countries. Solberg also promoted international cooperation and equitable access to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, including support for global initiatives to improve access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment.