Policy Updates

On August 17, 2026, Norway reported NOK30 billion (US$3.3 billion) in 2025 climate financing, more than quadrupling annual funding from NOK7 billion (US$770 million) in 2020 and meeting its 2021 pledge to double climate financing and at least triple adaptation support by 2026.

Norway’s Minister for International Development Åsmund Aukrust attributed the increase mainly to private capital mobilized through the Climate Investment Fund, managed by Norfund. Mobilization reached NOK16 billion (US$1.8 billion) in 2025, an 181% increase from 2024. Aukrust cautioned that annual mobilization could decline in 2026 because investment levels vary.

Norwegian financing supported renewable energy, rainforest protection, and measures to strengthen resilience to floods, droughts, and other climate-related disasters. Norfund CEO Erik Sandersen said combining public funds with private investment could increase the climate impact of each krone spent.

Norway provided NOK3 billion (US$333 million) for climate adaptation in 2025, a 5% increase from 2024. The government plans to announce a new climate-financing target before the end of 2026. Developing countries are estimated to need US$2.5 trillion annually by 2030 for emissions reductions and climate adaptation.

On August 17, 2026, Germany presented its complete draft federal budget for 2027, allocating EUR9.5 billion (US$11.0 billion) to BMZ, EUR587 million (US$681 million) 6% below 2026, while federal debt is projected to reach EUR1 trillion (US$1.2 trillion) by 2030.

The draft budget projects BMZ funding will fall to EUR9.2 billion (US$10.7 billion) by 2030, with a further 3% cut in 2028. Nevertheless, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Germany will remain a reliable development partner. Meanwhile, the BMFTR budget has increased 1% to EUR21.9 billion (US$25.4 billion) in 2027, while the BMG global-health budget has fallen 7% to EUR106 million (US$123 million). However, the AA budget for humanitarian assistance and crisis prevention rose 0.2% to EUR1.1 billion (US$1.3 billion).

Moreover, Germany has budgeted EUR16.2 million (US$19 million) for GPEI, EUR26.2 million (US$30 million) for UNFPA, EUR13.6 million (US$16 million) for IPPF, and EUR22.5 million (US$26 million) for GFF. Germany remains on track to honor its commitments to GFATM, Gavi, and CEPI. Germany’s IDA21 remains at EUR1.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) overall while annual disbursements are set to fluctuate.

Parliamentary debates are scheduled to begin in September, with the Budget Committee expected to conclude negotiations on November 12.

On August 10, 2026, Italy authorized EUR1.5 million (US$2 million) in emergency assistance and EUR3 million (US$3 million) in recovery projects for communities affected by the earthquake in Colombia.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani instructed Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli to authorize the initial humanitarian package. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were expected to implement the multilateral initiatives. Italy also considered delivering humanitarian assistance through the UN logistics network.

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation planned to implement additional projects with civil society organizations. The projects aimed to strengthen community resilience and support socioeconomic recovery, based on local needs and priorities identified with Colombian authorities and international partners.

Tajani also recognized the work of the International Italo-Latin American Organization, which facilitated the delivery of satellite imagery from the European Union’s Copernicus Programme to Colombian authorities. The imagery supported damage assessments and monitoring of the affected area.

On August 11, 2026, the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition welcomed Norway as its 20th supporting country and JICA as an observer institution, strengthening the Coalition’s representation across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Norway joined Barbados, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and Zambia. The supporting countries brought varied experience in development cooperation, including financing, technical assistance, knowledge, and technology.

Head of the Coalition Secretariat Alexia Latortue said the Coalition had reached its original goal of 20 supporting countries. Supporting countries followed the Coalition’s work, engaged with emerging ideas, and considered how to apply forthcoming principles and recommendations in their own contexts. Their participation helped test whether the Coalition’s proposals were relevant across different political, economic, and institutional settings.

The Coalition’s Co-Chairs and Commissioners finalized the Purposes and Principles of Effective Development Cooperation and began developing recommendations based on research, country and thematic consultations, and engagement with supporting countries and other partners.

On August 6, 2026, the US announced nearly US$2 billion in partnerships with faith-based and community organizations to deliver global health and humanitarian assistance across more than 20 countries. The announcement represents the largest allocation of global health foreign assistance to faith-based organizations in over 20 years.

As a landmark commitment under the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS), the Department of State allocated US$1.4 billion to support integrated health services through faith-based and community hospitals and clinics in more than 20 countries. Through the Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) Award to World Vision and a consortium of local faith-based implementers, up to US$850 million was committed over five years to:

• Strengthen over 2,500 faith-based hospitals, clinics, and community hubs to deliver high-quality healthcare across 17 countries;
• Train, pay, and equip more than 30,000 community health workers with supplies to deliver critical health services; and
• Provide an additional US$570 million to faith-based and community hospitals and clinics through memoranda of understanding signed with partner governments under the AFGHS.

The US also announced US$538 million in humanitarian response funding for Samaritan's Purse and a consortium jointly led by World Vision and Compassion International. The funding is expected to reach 7 million people across 16 humanitarian crises, with over US$100 million made immediately available for natural disaster response and preparedness across 23 disaster-prone countries.

On August 3, 2026, the Swedish government announced SEK6.9 million (US$690,000) to the Swecare Foundation to strengthen Ukraine's health care system through training, knowledge exchange, and partnerships between Swedish and Ukrainian actors.

The initiative focuses on building Ukrainian capacity in cancer care, rehabilitation and prosthetic care, infection prevention, countering AMR, and hospital management. Among its key activities, the program will establish a major training program for Ukrainian health care professionals in radiation therapy.

The Swecare Foundation will implement the initiative through its network of Swedish government agencies, regions, health care actors, academia, and life science companies. The program builds on previous Swedish health care initiatives in Ukraine and aims to create long-term partnerships between Swedish and Ukrainian actors, including in the private sector. The initiative also supports Ukraine's reform agenda and path toward EU membership.

On July 29, 2026, the US Departments of State and Health and Human Services announced the release of US$600 million in congressionally appropriated funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, resolving months of delay under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had withheld the funds over concerns about mercury-containing vaccines.

The Trump administration confirmed the release of the funding, which covers FY2025 and FY2026 and was set to expire on September 30, 2026. Kennedy had held up the disbursement for months, arguing that Gavi was using dangerous and outdated vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. The departments stated that Gavi committed to work toward transitioning away from mercury-containing vaccines and expanding access to newer, mercury-free alternatives.

The US has largely phased out thimerosal-containing vaccines domestically, though the preservative remains in use in parts of the world with limited refrigeration capacity. Mainstream vaccine safety experts have affirmed that the vaccines Gavi uses are safe. The departments described the administration's position as "a pro-vaccine, pro-innovation policy."

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins announced on July 28, 2026 that the State Department had agreed to disburse the funding. The US$600 million represents approximately 15% of Gavi's total annual budget. Gavi CEO Dr. Sania Nishtar welcomed the announcement, noting that the US has helped Gavi immunize over 1.2 billion children since 2000.

Scottish and UK development organizations criticized Prime Minister Andy Burnham's decision to exclude newly appointed Minister for Development Kirsty McNeill from Cabinet on July 30, 2026, with critics warning the move signaled a reduced commitment to international development.

McNeill, who served as an executive director for Save the Children before being elected MP for Mid Lothian in 2024 and subsequently serving as Scotland Office minister, was appointed Minister for Development and Africa by Burnham. Unlike her predecessor Jenny Chapman, who held the same role and attended Cabinet, and fellow FCDO minister Hamish Falconer, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, McNeill will not attend Cabinet. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will instead provide senior representation for development issues at Cabinet level.

Scotland's International Development Alliance welcomed the appointment of McNeill as Minister for Development and Africa but expressed concern that her exclusion from Cabinet represented a clear signal that the government failed to recognize the importance of global justice in addressing climate change and global conflict. Alliance representative Frances Guy urged the government to reinstate commitments to overseas development assistance and international climate finance. Oxfam, the SNP, and the Scottish Greens also criticized the decision.

Spain's MAEC presented a new Strategy for Culture and Sustainable Development of Spanish Cooperation on July 28, 2026, establishing a ten-point roadmap to advance cultural rights and diversity as pillars of sustainable development.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares presented the Strategy for Culture and Sustainable Development of Spanish Cooperation to the Council of Ministers on July 28, 2026. The Strategy renews Spain's commitment to cultural rights and cultural diversity as drivers of sustainable development, framing culture as a human right, a space for participation and dialogue, a driver of social cohesion, and a tool for peacebuilding. Albares stated that the Strategy is grounded in the conviction that sustainable development cannot be achieved without culture.

The Strategy was developed through a participatory process involving institutional representatives, technical staff, cultural agents, and creators from Spanish Cooperation and the cultural sector. It aligns with the Law on Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity and the Master Plan for Spanish Cooperation, which recognize culture as a human right and a cross-cutting element of international cooperation.

The Strategy is structured around ten strategic lines. The first four focus on guaranteeing cultural rights, promoting participation in cultural life, advancing diversity, incorporating a feminist approach, and strengthening democracy, peacebuilding, and social cohesion. Lines five and six address the contribution of culture to economic and social development in partner countries, including support for the cultural and creative sector and the link between culture and education. Lines seven through nine address the protection of cultural heritage, the role of culture in responding to environmental and climate challenges, and the promotion of transparent and democratic participatory communication. The tenth strategic line focuses on building alliances to expand the scope, innovation, and impact of cultural cooperation for sustainable development.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband was appointed as as UK Governor to the World Bank on July 27, 2026, signaling renewed UK leadership on international development and climate finance.

As Governor to the World Bank, Miliband will be taking personal leadership of the UK's engagement on international development and climate finance. In the role, Miliband will attend the World Bank's Annual and Spring Meetings, including the Annual Meetings in Bangkok in October 2026. The UK government stated that UK leadership at the World Bank will help drive international action on poverty, climate change, and economic stability, and address global challenges including food insecurity and energy price shocks.

Miliband also confirmed that international development and tackling the climate and nature crisis will remain priorities for the FCDO, recognizing extreme poverty and climate change as shared global challenges affecting security and prosperity in the UK and partner countries.

World Bank President Ajay Banga welcomed the appointment of Miliband, stating the institution looks forward to working with him to create jobs, mobilize private capital, and deliver development outcomes.