Policy Updates

On November 25, 2025, the US State Department approved a grant of up to US$150 million over three years to Zipline International Inc., an American robotics and autonomous drone delivery company, to expand healthcare operations in Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d'Ivoire, potentially reaching 15,000 health facilities and providing 100 million people with access to blood and medications.

The grant marked one of the first major US global health funding announcements since the Trump administration's foreign assistance freeze, dismantling of USAID, and release of its 'America First' global health strategy. US Undersecretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom Jeremy Lewin characterized the partnership as an example of innovative, results-driven partnership at the core of the America First foreign assistance agenda.

The funding was structured on a pay-for-performance basis, with initial payments unlocked when participating governments signed contracts committing to pay for ongoing logistics services. The five governments committed to pay up to US$400 million in utilization fees. Rwanda, where Zipline began operations in 2016, is expected to be the first to sign.

On November 21, 2025, the US pledged US$4.6 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2026-2029 at the 8^th Replenishment pledging event in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Global Fund reached US$11.3 billion of its US$18 billion target, with the US maintaining its matching pledge ratio requiring the Global Fund to secure US$2 from other donors for every US$1 contributed.

The pledge represented a modest decline from the US$6 billion the US committed in the previous funding cycle. Undersecretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious Freedom Jeremy Lewin announced the pledge in a video message, noting the reduction was to account for needed reforms and efficiencies. Lewin praised Executive Director Peter Sands' leadership and the organization's track record, stating the Global Fund would play a role in America's new vision for global health engagement.

The pledge came amid uncertainty about whether the US would contribute at all, following the Trump administration's dismantling of the country's foreign aid infrastructure and withdrawal from many multilateral commitments.

On November 20, 2025, Germany committed EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) over 10 years to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a new rainforest protection fund launched by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at COP30 in Belém.

German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and German Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan announced the pledge at the climate conference. Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva welcomed Germany's contribution, stating it demonstrated the fund was a well-structured climate protection instrument. Martin Kaiser, Executive Director of Greenpeace Germany, praised the political signal but called for conditions ensuring the fund's investments avoid climate-harmful sources.

The fund aims to reach US$125 billion and distribute US$4 billion annually to countries protecting tropical forests, with penalties for deforestation verified by satellite imagery. The World Bank serves as trustee, with governance by an 18-member executive council split equally between tropical forest countries and industrialized nations. Norway pledged US$3 billion over 10 years, while Brazil and Indonesia each committed US$1 billion. Founding members include Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

On November 19, 2025, JICA signed a JPY864 million (US$5.6 million) grant agreement with UNDP in Tokyo to support women's economic activities in Afghanistan's border provinces through a 24-month project.

The Project for the Improvement of Women's Livelihoods through the Promotion of Economic Activity in the Border Areas in Afghanistan aims to promote women's economic activities by developing hubs of economic activities, improving access to finance for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises, and conducting community awareness activities in provinces bordering neighboring countries. Director Hideko Hadzialic of UNDP Representation Office in Tokyo and Chief Representative Tosaka Sota of JICA Afghanistan exchanged signatures for the agreement.

The project will construct and rehabilitate facilities, support improved access to finance and markets, and conduct awareness and training activities over the 24-month implementation period.

Norway announced NOK465 million (US$47 million) in humanitarian support to Ukraine on November 19, 2025, bringing total Norwegian support to Ukraine and refugees in neighboring countries in 2025 to NOK3 billion (US$300 million).

The contribution supplemented NOK120 million (US$12 million) for food security announced at the international summit on food security in Kyiv on November 19, 2025 following increased casualties and displacement from intensified attacks.

Norway channeled funds through key UN partners, the International Red Cross Movement, and Norwegian humanitarian organizations, prioritizing protection and emergency assistance for vulnerable populations on front lines, support for evacuations and internal displacement, and assistance for people who lost homes. The funds also supported repairs and upgrades of power plants and energy infrastructure following escalated Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy grid since summer 2025.

Recipients include:

• Norwegian humanitarian strategic partners, NOK198 million (US$20 million);
• UNICEF, NOK45 million (US$5 million);
• WHO, NOK55 million (US$6 million);
• ICRC, NOK40 million (US$4 million);
• UNFPA, NOK39 million (US$4 million);
• UNHCR, NOK35 million (US$4 million);
• Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, NOK35 million (US$4 million);
• IFRC, NOK15 million (US$2 million); and
• UNOCHA, NOK3 million (US$300,000).

On November 17, 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres named Alexander De Croo of Belgium as the new Administrator of UNDP for a four-year term following UN General Assembly confirmation.

Guterres expressed gratitude to De Croo's predecessor, Achim Steiner of Germany, for his leadership and commitment to the organization. Guterres also extended appreciation to Haoliang Xu, Under Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP, who has served as Acting Administrator until the appointment of De Croo.

De Croo served as Prime Minister of Belgium from 2020 to 2025. His tenure included crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic, coordination of Belgium's vaccination rollout and economic recovery strategies, and Belgium's presidency of the Council of the EU during a period of considerable geopolitical strain. Before becoming Prime Minister, De Croo served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2012 to 2020, as Minister of Development Cooperation and Digital Agenda from 2014 to 2020, and as Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2020. De Croo advocated for international cooperation, advanced international development, championed gender equality and digital innovation as drivers of progress, and supported humanitarian relief efforts.

On November 17, 2025, German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider pledged EUR60 million (US$70 million) to the Adaptation Fund at the COP30 conference in Belém, Brazil, maintaining Germany's position as the fund's largest donor since 2007.

Schneider stated the funding would support vulnerable countries in adapting to climate change, particularly protecting coastal populations from extreme weather events. Germany had announced an identical EUR60 million (US$70 million) contribution at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2024. The Adaptation Fund has deployed approximately US$1.4 billion across 200 projects in 108 countries, reaching over 50 million people since its establishment in 2007.

Schneider reaffirmed Germany's commitment to the COP29 agreement requiring industrialized nations to mobilize US$300 billion annually by 2035 for climate action. Germany provided EUR6 billion (US$7.0 billion) from the federal budget and EUR12 billion (US$13.9 billion) total for climate financing in 2024. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously indicated Germany would contribute a substantial sum to Brazil's Tropical Forest Fund, which rewards forest conservation and penalizes deforestation.

On November 11, 2025, Sweden announced SEK100 million (US$11 million) to WFP and UNHCR in Sudan and neighboring countries to address the civil war-driven humanitarian crisis.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa announced the funding would support food to alleviate famine and protection for the displaced. Joar Forssell, foreign policy spokesperson for the Liberal Party, stated the increased support would help save lives and alleviate suffering of vulnerable people. Gudrun Brunegård, aid policy spokesperson for the Christian Democrats, described the situation as the largest humanitarian crisis the world had ever seen.

Sweden has allocated SEK60 million (US$7 million) to WFP operations in Sudan for 2025, channeled through core support, which boosts life-saving food aid distribution in Darfur and other famine-afflicted parts of Sudan. Additionally, Sweden provided SEK40 million (US$4 million) to UNHCR operations in Sudan and neighboring countries for 2025, also channeled through Sweden's core support to UNHCR.

The UK pledged GBP850 million (US$1.1 billion) to the Global Fund on November 11, 2025, ahead of the 8^th replenishment summit on November 21, 2025, representing a 15% reduction from the UK's previous GBP1 billion (US$1.3 billion) pledge in 2022.

The UK will co-host the Global Fund's 8^th replenishment summit with South Africa on November 21, 2025. The pledge marked the first time in Global Fund history that a host country reduced its contribution.

Chair of the International Development Committee Sarah Champion expressed disappointment with the GBP150 million (US$197 million) reduction. Champion stated that reducing the UK's commitment was short-sighted and risked undermining the UK's reputation as a global health leader. Champion noted that cuts of this scale would have real impact and result in avoidable harm, urging ministers to take seriously the commitments the UK makes to vulnerable populations.

The Tropical Forest Forever Facility secured endorsements from 53 countries and financial commitments exceeding US$5.5 billion launched at the COP30 Leader's Summit in Belém, Brazil, on November 6, 2025, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The TFFF Launch Declaration received endorsements from 53 countries, including 19 potential sovereign investors. A total of 34 tropical forest countries endorsed the declaration, representing over 90% of tropical forests in developing countries, including Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and China.

Countries announced the following financial commitments:

• Norway committed US$3 billion over the next 10 years, subject to specific conditions;
• Brazil and Indonesia reconfirmed commitments of US$1 billion each;
• France indicated that, under specific conditions, it would consider committing EUR500 million (US$578 million) until 2030;
• Portugal committed US$1 million;
• Netherlands committed US$5 million for the secretariat; and
• Germany fully endorsed the TFFF, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz scheduled to discuss financial commitments with President Lula.

The TFFF is a shift in global efforts to protect and restore tropical forests. The facility will address a market failure while recognizing the value of and paying for ecosystem services provided by tropical forests to the world.