Policy Updates

On April 17, 2026, Canada announced CAD5.5 million (US$4 million) in humanitarian assistance to address the ongoing economic and energy crisis in Cuba, with funding allocated to PAHO and WFP

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced the funding on behalf of Global Affairs Canada. Cuba has faced a deepening humanitarian crisis marked by repeated nationwide power grid failures, prolonged blackouts, and acute fuel shortages, severely disrupting access to food, clean water, and health care.

Of the total, CAD5 million (US$3.6 million) was allocated to PAHO to improve access to essential health services, critical medicines, and medical supplies, as well as to strengthen supply chains and support primary health care facilities and referral hospitals. The remaining CAD500,000 (US$365,000) was allocated to WFP to provide food assistance and support essential logistics and fuel needs for the humanitarian response.

On April 16, 2026, the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents announced new funding commitments totaling US$806 million from governments and philanthropic partners to support its TRANSFORM 2030 strategy, a five-year plan to accelerate reductions in preventable maternal and child deaths.

The announcements were made on the sidelines of the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington, DC. The commitments represent more than 80% of the GFF's fundraising goal of US$1 billion by the end of 2026, with additional pledges expected in the coming months.

Commitments announced included:

• CAD190 million (US$139 million) from the Government of Canada;
• EUR45 million (US$53 million) from the Government of Germany;
• US$186 million from the Government of the Netherlands;
• NOK600 million (US$66 million) from the Government of Norway;
• US$150 million from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation;
• US$200 million from the Gates Foundation; and
• US$15 million from the Laerdal Scale Up Fund.

Philanthropic and private sector commitments included US$250 million for the newly launched Sustainable Commodities Access Program, designed to incentivize countries to expand access to high-quality commodities and address supply chain bottlenecks, and US$15 million for a new innovations challenge program to scale up the Safer Births Bundle of Care in 10 countries.

On April 15, 2026, Canada announced more than CAD120 million (US$88 million) in new funding to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and neighboring countries, including humanitarian assistance, development funding, and peace and stabilization support.

Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai made the announcement at the International Sudan Conference in Berlin, Germany. Sudan has faced a deepening humanitarian crisis driven by a civil war that began in 2023, resulting in the largest human displacement crisis in the world, widespread sexual violence, famine, and the collapse of basic services.

Canada's contribution included more than CAD94 million (US$69 million) in humanitarian assistance in 2026, delivered through partners to provide emergency food and nutrition, health care, protection, shelter, and water and sanitation to vulnerable people affected by the crisis in Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad.

An additional CAD25 million (US$18 million) was allocated to development assistance, including CAD18 million (US$13 million) to Save the Children Canada to deliver education for more than 60,000 children and protect children from violence, exploitation, and trauma, and CAD7 million (US$5 million) to the UN Population Fund to expand sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response services across Sudan, including in Darfur and Kordofan. Canada also allocated CAD1.25 million (US$912,000) to expand peace and stabilization efforts, including civilian-led initiatives.

At the One Health Summit in Lyon, France, on April 7, 2026, the European Commission announced plans to pledge EUR700 million (US$812 million) to the Global Fund's 8th replenishment, EUR46.5 million (US$54 million) to strengthen health security in Africa and Europe, and EUR50 million (US$58 million) in research and development for AMR and neglected tropical diseases.

Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela made the announcements under the scope of the new Global Health Resilience Initiative, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in the 2025 State of the Union address.

Of the Global Fund pledge, EUR185 million (US$215 million) will be immediately available under the current long-term budget, with country-level grants implemented from 2027 to 2029. Team Europe, comprising the Commission and EU Member States, pledged more than EUR3 billion (US$3.5 billion) in total to the 8th replenishment, representing around one third of all donor contributions since the Global Fund's creation in 2002.

The EUR46.5 million (US$54 million) health security investment aims to strengthen the One Health workforce, AMR surveillance, prevention, and control, and laboratory capacity across Africa over five years, in partnership with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and other agencies.

Of the EUR50 million (US$58 million) in research and development funding, EUR30 million (US$35 million), managed by KfW, supported the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator and the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, while EUR20 million (US$23 million) was contributed to AFD for implementation by DNDi to develop dengue medical treatments.

During an April 3, 2026 visit to Ukraine, Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced CAD51 million (US$37 million) in new funding across six projects targeting humanitarian assistance, democratic governance, veterans' support, and EU accession reforms. The projects are as follows:

• 2026 Humanitarian Assistance (CAD32 million/US$23 million): funding to multiple partners — including the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, HelpAge Canada, the International Medical Corps, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and its Country-Based Pooled Fund (Ukraine Humanitarian Fund), the ICRC, the UNHCR, and the WFP — to address urgent humanitarian needs, including emergency health care, shelter, water, sanitation, and food;
• FAIR-UA: Foundations for Accountable, Inclusive and Resilient Elections (CAD6 million/US$4 million, 2026-2029): support for credible, inclusive post-war elections in Ukraine, including strengthening the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, delivering voter education, countering disinformation, and supporting civil society oversight of electoral processes;
• Ukraine Ministry of Veterans Affairs Institutional Strengthening (CAD5 million/US$4 million, 2026-2029): capacity-building for the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine to coordinate programs and services for veterans and their families;
• Supporting Inclusive Recovery and EU Accession of Ukraine (CAD5 million/US$4 million, 2026-2031): support for national governance reforms aligned with EU accession requirements and inclusive recovery policies;
• Mobile Service Delivery for Conflict-Affected Populations in Eastern Ukraine (additional CAD2 million/US$1 million, 2019-2026): additional funding to an existing project, bringing total Canadian support to CAD19 million (US$14 million), to improve access to basic public services for war-affected populations, including women, older persons, people with disabilities, and internally displaced persons; and
• Supporting Inclusive Grassroots Democracy in Ukraine (additional CAD1 million/US$1 million, 2018-2027): additional funding to an existing project, bringing total Canadian support to CAD13 million (US$9 million), to strengthen grassroots democratic movements and inclusive governance during wartime and into early recovery.

On April 1, 2026, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs announced EUR40 million (US$46 million) in humanitarian and development assistance to Ukraine in 2026, Ireland's largest funding package for the country since Russia's invasion in 2022. The latest funding package brings Ireland's 2026 support to Ukraine to EUR65 million (US$74 million.)

The new funding builds upon EUR25 million (US$28 million) announced in February 2026 to repair critical energy infrastructure. The 2026 total of EUR65 million (US$74 million) represents a significant increase on the EUR35 million (US$40 million) provided by Ireland in 2025.

The EUR40 million (US$46 million) package includes EUR26 million (US$29 million) in humanitarian assistance and EUR14 million (US$16 million) in long-term development and peacebuilding support. Additionally, EUR2 million (US$2 million) has been allocated to Moldova to address challenges related to the war in Ukraine. Funding was delivered through UN agencies and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which will provide emergency shelter, medical care, maternal healthcare, and essential support to people in frontline areas and children.

Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee made the announcement during an official visit to Ukraine, where she met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond noted that Ukraine would be a priority during Ireland's upcoming EU Presidency.

On March 31, 2026, German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan announced a EUR177 million (US$204 million) support package for Jordan, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories.

Alabali Radovan announced the package during a visit to Jordan, citing the impact of the war with Iran on the region, including direct attacks, displacement, rising prices, and closed border crossings. Part of the funding was already earmarked for the region, with the remainder drawn from reallocations within the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's budget. The package is allocated as follows:

• Jordan (EUR50 million/US$58 million): support for Syrian refugees, including teachers' salaries to enable Syrian children to attend school, employment projects in waste and recycling management, and vocational training to support return to Syria and reconstruction;
• Palestinian Territories (EUR30 million/US$35 million): EUR10 million (US$11.5 million) will be used for additional housing beyond the 1,500 temporary dwellings already financed in Gaza, another EUR10 million (US$11.5 million) will be used to to promote employment in the West Bank, and additional funds for vocational training for young people and local food production; and
• Lebanon (EUR75 million/US$86 million): support for approximately one million internally displaced persons, including cash-for-work programs and learning materials for children to participate in distance learning.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development also committed EUR22 million (US$25 million) in additional support for a planned seawater desalination plant on the Red Sea.

On March 27, 2026, Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced CAD200 million (US$144 million) in renewed funding for Grand Challenges Canada to advance global health innovation.

Sarai made the announcement during a visit to KA Imaging, a Grand Challenges Canada-supported company based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The renewed investment will support innovators in developing, testing, and scaling technology to improve health outcomes at low cost in high-poverty communities, while creating jobs and expanding into global markets.

The funding will also advance Grand Challenges Canada's collaboration with the Global Fund to increase the uptake of health innovations globally. Canada stated that the investment aims to deliver measurable impact, including better health outcomes for women, children, and vulnerable communities in high-poverty countries, as well as strengthened global health security.

On March 24, 2026, Norway announced NOK767 million (US$77 million) in additional humanitarian funding for Ukrainians affected by the war, including NOK260 million (US$26 million) in new support for displaced people in and from Ukraine through UNHCR and other UN partners.

The Norwegian government announced an increase of NOK225 million (US$23 million) to UNHCR's efforts in Ukraine and a further NOK35 million (US$4 million) for its refugee response in neighboring Moldova. Additional funding was directed through the WFP, UNICEF, and the UN's humanitarian country-based pooled funds to support humanitarian work in Ukraine and the refugee response in Moldova.

The new funding for the humanitarian response in Ukraine, totaling NOK725 million (US$73 million), will be allocated as follows:

• NOK225 million (US$23 million) to UNHCR;
• NOK175 million (US$18 million) to WFP;
• NOK110 million (US$11 million) to UNICEF;
• NOK80 million (US$8 million) to UNOCHA's country-based pooled funds;
• NOK50 million (US$5 million) to UNFPA;
• NOK50 million (US$5 million) to WHO;
• NOK30 million (US$3 million) to FAO; and
• NOK5 million (US$500,000) to UNOCHA for coordination.

Additional funding for the refugee response in Moldova, totaling NOK42 million (US$4 million), is allocated as follows:

• NOK35 million (US$4 million) to the UNHCR;
• NOK4 million (US$400,000) to UNFPA; and
• NOK3 million (US$300,000) to UNICEF.

The Australian government announced an AUD2.5 million (US$2 million) climate resilience package and signed three memoranda of understanding with the Federated States of Micronesia on maritime security and policing cooperation during the first official bilateral visit by a Federated States of Micronesia head of state in nearly 30 years.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy welcomed Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina to Canberra on March 24, 2026. Australia and the Federated States of Micronesia signed three memoranda of understanding: one to enhance maritime security cooperation, enabling the Federated States of Micronesia to access support under Australia's increased investment in regional maritime security partnerships, and two to implement the Pacific Policing Initiative, the key policing cooperation mechanism in the Pacific.

Australia and the Federated States of Micronesia also announced an AUD2.5 million (US$2 million) climate resilience package drawn from the existing bilateral development budget. The package will support girls and children with disabilities in accessing safe drinking water and basic sanitation in schools, and fund upgrades to emergency evacuation shelters. Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to climate action, including a Pacific Pre- COP in Fiji and a leaders' side visit to Tuvalu.