Policy Updates

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 3, 2026; the UK announced the launch of the Multi-Hazard Research Network to support the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and provide rapid expert advice during crises as well as funding up to GBP5 million (US$7 million) for research into diagnostics and treatments for the Bundibugyo species of Ebolavirus.

Led by the Institute of Development Studies, the new network brought together experts from the UK and international partners to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response to emerging infectious disease outbreaks and other crises. The British government said the network’s Rapid Response Unit has already supported the Ebola response through data analysis, social and behavioral science research, lessons from previous outbreaks, local context analysis, and outbreak modeling. Meanwhile, the new GBP5 million (US$7 million) commitment will support research and development of treatments and rapid diagnostics, alongside existing support to CEPI for vaccine candidates.

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.

On May 28, 2026, Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced CAD8 million (US$5.7 million) for Ebola response operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, allocating funding to the World Health Organization, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Canadian Red Cross, and projects implemented by Oxfam-Quebec and World Vision Canada through the Humanitarian Coalition.

Sarai, joined by Minister of Health Marjorie Michel and Member of Parliament Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, said Canada would provide CAD3.5 million (US$2.5 million) to the World Health Organization’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support rapid response by governments and partners, and CAD2 million (US$1.5 million) to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to accelerate surveillance and strengthen biosecurity measures.

CAD1.8 million (US$1.3 million) has been allocated to the Canadian Red Cross to support local Red Cross societies to trace and prevent infection, provide health support services, and strengthen hygiene and sanitation. Through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund, Canada allocated CAD350,000 (US$254,000) to Oxfam-Quebec and CAD350,000 (US$254,000) to World Vision Canada via a project with the Humanitarian Coalition to provide assistance including clean water and sanitation, essential non-food items, and health services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Canada said it had also supported the deployment of Canadian Red Cross experts to assist operations of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the region, and that it would continue to monitor the situation with partners.

On May 27, 2026, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani directed the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allocate EUR1.15 million (US$1.3 million), signed by Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli, to support the immediate humanitarian response to the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with funding to be provided to Italian civil society organizations operating in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

The funding will support interventions to halt Ebola transmission by strengthening epidemiological surveillance, local health system response capacity, and community confidence in containment measures recommended by the World Health Organization. Resources will focus on priority areas identified by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization for infection prevention and control, including epidemiological surveillance and contact tracing, immediate health relief, and community engagement.

The allocation has added to two ongoing humanitarian initiatives funded by Italian Cooperation totaling EUR5.5 million (US$6.4 million) for five civil society projects in eastern provinces, and that Italian Cooperation would also provide a direct contribution of EUR290,000 (US$336,000) to the World Health Organization’s crisis response efforts.

On May 25, 2026, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation announced EUR1.2 million (US$1.4 million) to the IFRC to support response efforts for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and other at-risk neighboring countries.

EUR500,000 (US$580,000) was allocated through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation to the federation’s regional emergency appeal to help contain the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and neighboring countries. Meanwhile, EUR700,000 (US$812,000) was provided as a contribution to the federation’s regular budget.