Policy Updates

On September 6, 2026, the far-right German AfD won the Saxony-Anhalt state election , securing 39 seats in the 83-member state legislature but falling three seats short of the absolute majority needed to govern alone.

The AfD, which Germany's domestic intelligence agency classified as "right-wing extremist," sought an outright majority to circumvent the so-called firewall, mainstream parties' longstanding refusal to enter into coalition with the party. AfD candidate for state governor Ulrich Siegmund stated the party would not pursue a minority government. Though the CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, does not appear to face an immediate threat, the election raises questions about its authority and the coalition’s ability to deliver its planned reforms.

The result reflects deep political and economic dissatisfaction in parts of Germany, extending beyond a regional outcome. Democratic parties, businesses, and CSOs face a growing challenge in responding to the shift. For international actors, the election signals a more difficult environment for defending international cooperation, development programs, and migration policies.

On September 3, 2026, it was reported that the WHO Foundation faced a potential funding shortfall, given uncertainty over the renewal of support from its primary donor, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, whose backing was set to expire in 2026.

The WHO Foundation, established to raise additional funding for the WHO, faces questions about its own financial sustainability in September 2026. Two health sources familiar with the situation described the foundation as "running out of money," citing stagnant donor funding for its own operations despite growth in programmatic fundraising.

The foundation had increasingly relied on the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private Swiss philanthropic organization, as its primary donor for operational costs. That support, set to expire in 2026, has no confirmation of renewal for 2027. An external evaluation commissioned by the WHO Foundation recommended that WHO fund the foundation's operating expenses to enable it to raise more resources for the UN agency.

Former and current WHO employees questioned whether the agency would agree to such an arrangement, given WHO's own financial constraints. WHO had cut staff and reduced its budget plans for 2026-2027, and still faced a 10% funding gap for the current biennium.

On September 1, 2026, the UK’s Africa Minister, Kirsty McNeill, announced more than GBP50 million (US$68.1 million) in additional funding to contain Ebola in the DRC, bringing the UK’s total contribution to GBP78 million (US$106.2 million).

The package supports disease surveillance, frontline health workers, infection prevention and control, treatment access, community engagement, and safe and dignified burials. The funding is aimed to save lives, support affected communities, and reduce the risk of international spread as the outbreak continued amid conflict, displacement, and severe humanitarian needs.

On August 31, 2026, Sweden ended its embassy presence and bilateral development funding in Liberia after 65 years.

Though support will continue to flow through the EU, UN Women, and UNFPA, this will likely not offset the loss for women’s rights and health services.

This follows Sweden’s late 2025 announcement that it would cut development funding to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Tanzania, and Bolivia by SEK10 billion (US$1.1 billion), in order to redirect the funds to Ukraine.

On August 30, 2026, Public Citizen and Partners In Health published a joint analysis which found that the Trump administration planned a 59% reduction, approximately US$2 billion, in US health spending across 18 low-income partner countries by 2030, despite congressional directives to maintain relatively steady global health funding levels.

In response, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the department planned to spend all congressionally appropriated health foreign assistance. Pigott added that the administration was "defining the next phase of US global health foreign assistance" in a way that prioritized efficiency, transparency, country self-reliance, and American innovation, as part of its broader America First foreign policy.

As part of the America First Global Health Strategy, the State Department had been negotiating bilateral health assistance agreements following the dismantling of USAID. By August 2026, it had signed deals with 34 countries, totaling US$14.5 billion in US assistance alongside over US$10.1 billion in co-investments from recipient countries.

The process faced criticism for its lack of transparency. Public Citizen sued the State Department after it failed to release the agreements in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. The lawsuit resulted in the release of 15 deals, including six that had not previously been made public. The analysis also found that countries missing "steep" co-financing requirements could face penalties that would worsen funding cuts, with some countries set to lose significantly more than others.

On August 28, 2026, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, and Secretary of State, Randeep Sarai, announced CAD5 million (US$3.6 million) in humanitarian assistance for emergency relief following severe flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-China border.

The funding supported emergency food, shelter, water, sanitation, and health services through UN, Red Cross, and Canadian NGO partners. Canada also offered to deploy relief supplies from its emergency stockpiles through the Canadian Red Cross if requested.

Global Affairs Canada deployed five consular officials to Kathmandu to coordinate with local authorities, partners, and Canada’s Honorary Consul in Kathmandu. Officials worked to contact Canadians and their families and remained ready to assist Canadians in affected areas.

On August 26, 2026, Canada announced more than CAD2 million (US$1.46 million) in humanitarian assistance for communities affected by Colombia’s August 10 earthquake.

Secretary of State (International Development) Randeep Sarai announced the funding, which included CAD1.4 million (US$1.02 million) for the World Food Programme’s emergency food assistance and logistics services. Canadian Lutheran World Relief received CAD350,000 (US$252,000) through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund to provide emergency shelter kits and water, sanitation, and hygiene services. The Canadian Red Cross allocated CAD250,000 (US$183,000) through its Emergency Disaster Assistance Fund to support the Colombian Red Cross’ relief operations. An additional CAD50,000 (US$37,000) through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives supported emergency housing, food, and hygiene kits.

The new funding followed almost CAD8.5 million (US$6.2 million) in humanitarian assistance that Canada allocated to Colombia earlier in 2026. Canada also reported reallocating existing resources for emergency supplies, technical assistance, care services, psychosocial support, and protection for women and girls.

On August 26, 2026, nearly 140 Democratic lawmakers warned that US$7.5 billion in US international affairs funding, including more than US$3 billion for global health, could expire on September 30, 2026.

The lawmakers urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House budget chief Russell Vought to obligate the funding before the end of FY2026. The global health allocation included US$1.35 billion that the White House planned to use to close out USAID, while nearly US$1.9 billion from FY2025 remained unobligated.

The remaining funding included US$1.4 billion linked to terminated USAID awards, US$1.2 billion for development assistance, US$800 million for international organizations and UN peacekeeping, US$725 million for economic support funds and law enforcement, and US$100 million for USAID operating expenses. Unobligated funds would return to the US Treasury after September 30.

Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced on August 23, 2026, that Norway would provide NOK85 billion (US$9.2 billion) to Ukraine in FY2027 for military and humanitarian spending, matching its 2026 commitment.

Støre made the announcement during a visit to Kyiv with leaders from Nordic and Baltic countries, who demonstrated support for Ukraine amid Russia’s war. He said Norway viewed support for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction as an investment in Europe’s security.

On August 20, 2026, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan announced Germany’s EUR100 million (US$116 million) contribution to ECW, which aimed through Hope Starts Here to mobilize US$600 million over four years to provide safe, quality education to 10 million children and adolescents affected by crises.

Alabali Radovan said education expanded opportunities, dignity, and life prospects, and that cooperation among governments and partners could reach millions more children. Germany remains ECW’s largest donor, while the contribution reinforces the country’s commitment to education during crises through the BMZ.