Policy Updates

On September 29, 2025, the German government announced it provided a record EUR11.8 billion (US$13.8 billion) in international climate finance in 2024, meeting its annual pledge with EUR6.1 billion (US$7.2 billion) from the federal budget and mobilizing over EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) in private funding for the first time.

The total amount represents Germany's contribution to the international commitment of US$100 billion annually from industrialized nations. The EUR6.1 billion (US$7.2 billion) from the budget, an increase from EUR5.7 billion (US$6.7 billion) in 2023, was primarily funded by the BMZ at 79%. The remaining funds came from the IKI.

Mobilized funds totaled EUR5.7 billion (US$6.7 billion), which included EUR4.6 billion (US$5.4 billion) in market-rate loans from development banks KfW and DEG. Notably, private funding mobilized for climate investments more than doubled, reaching over EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) compared to EUR475 million (US$556 million) in 2023. Approximately EUR1.5 billion (US$1.8 billion) of the budget funds were allocated to climate-related biodiversity projects. The announcement was made ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

On September 26, 2025, at a meeting of the AHLC, Norway and 11 other countries launched the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the PA, with Norway contributing NOK40 million (US$4 million) to a crisis package.

The coalition, which also includes Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK, was established to stabilize the PA’s finances and preserve its ability to govern. The launch took place during an AHLC meeting in New York chaired by Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa attending virtually. The coalition demanded that Israel immediately release all Palestinian clearance revenues, which constitute over 60% of the revenue the PA needs.

The crisis package aims to support essential services like hospitals and schools. Norway’s contribution is in addition to NOK200 million (US$20 million) in budget support transferred earlier in 2025. The coalition will also promote a sustainable and coordinated approach with IFIs to support reforms and ensure accountability, affirming the effort as an investment in regional peace and the two-state solution.

On September 25^th, 2025, during UNGA80 in New York, the Government of Norway committed NOK55 million (US$5.5 million) to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership for 2025, to expand access to contraceptives and maternal health supplies in 54 countries.

The new funding is intended to help avert an estimated 378,000 unintended pregnancies, more than 1,000 maternal deaths, and more than 6,000 child deaths. Norwegian Minister of International Development Åsmund Grøver Aukrust stated that Norway is committed to protecting sexual and reproductive rights and ensuring access to vital health services as a prerequisite for sustainable development.

The investment will leverage the UNFPA Supplies Partnership’s Match Fund, which encourages countries to increase their own spending on reproductive health. This has led to a fivefold increase in domestic spending on contraceptives since 2020.

On September 25, 2025, the US administration issued a presidential memorandum to investigate and disrupt networks and organizations, including nonprofits, that the administration views as supporting political violence, coinciding with Department of Justice instructions to investigate George Soros's Open Society Foundations for potential racketeering charges.

The memorandum, titled Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence cited the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attacks on federal officers, and over US$2 billion in property damage from riots as justification for the new measures. The strategy calls for Joint Terrorism Task Forces to investigate funders and employees of organizations aiding in such activities. The memorandum also instructed the US Treasury and the IRS to identify and disrupt financial networks and ensure that tax-exempt entities, many of which are registered as nonprofits, are not directly or indirectly financing political violence.

The Open Society Foundations, which has distributed more than US$23 billion worldwide, condemned the instructions to the Department of Justice as politically motivated attacks on civil society meant to silence free speech. Soros founded the origins of the organization in 1984 to support democracy, especially in communist and former communist countries. The foundation funds groups promoting human rights, democracy, and equity.

The National Council of Nonprofits echoed the Open Society Foundations' concerns, stating that there was no evidence linking nonprofit organizations and foundations to recent political violence. Nearly 200 philanthropic organization released a joint open letter condemning political violence and warning against using the tragedy for partisan gain.

On September 23, 2025, during the UN General Assembly in New York, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand announced CAD60 million (US$43 million) in new funding to support multilateral efforts to stabilize Haiti.

The funding is intended to support the Multinational Security Support mission and address ongoing gang violence. The new commitment includes CAD40 million (US$29 million) for the mission, conditional on the passing of a Haiti resolution by the UN Security Council, and CAD20 million (US$14 million) for a Regional Maritime Security Initiative to counter transnational organized crime in the Caribbean.

The announcement was made during a meeting of the UN Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti. The funding is in addition to more than CAD450 million (US$325 million) in assistance committed by Canada since 2022, including over CAD86 million (US$62 million) provided for the security mission since February 2024.

On September 22, 2025 at the UN General Assembly in New York, Australia launched the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, joined by more than 100 countries and supported by an AUD15 million (US$10 million) pledge to protect and honor humanitarian personnel

The declaration, developed in partnership with countries including Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the UK, pledges new measures to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel. The measures include commitments to facilitate access, provide faster visas and work permits, and implement joint training for military personnel and humanitarian workers.

The funding will be channeled through the UNDSS, the OCHA, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Additional funding will support LAW, the RFF, and HO to maintain the AWSD.

On September 21, 2025, the IOM announced the launch of a two-year, SEK100 million (US$11 million) project funded by Sweden to support the sustainable reintegration of returning populations in Syria's Aleppo Governorate.

The project, funded by Sida, will focus on strengthening conditions for safe returns and supporting durable solutions to displacement. The initiative addresses the persistent vulnerabilities faced by returnees, including IDPs and Syrians returning from abroad, such as limited access to livelihoods and housing.

IOM’s Acting Chief of Mission in Syria Eleonora Servino highlighted the project as a critical step in finding durable solutions for displacement. Swedish Chargé d´Affaires to Syria, Jessica Svärdström, noted that the support complements Sweden's long-standing humanitarian assistance to Syria.

Project activities will include shelter rehabilitation, rental assistance, legal support for housing, land, and property rights, and MHPSS. The project will also promote social cohesion and use data from IOM's DTM to guide its interventions.

The project launch follows the return of approximately 2.1 million Syrians to their home areas since December 2024 and the formal approval for IOM to re-establish its presence in Damascus in August 2025.

On September 19, 2025, the UN treaty to protect the high seas reached its required 60-ratification threshold after Morocco and Sierra Leone formally joined, clearing the way for its entry into force in January 2026.

The BBNJ agreement was adopted in June 2023. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the ratification a historic achievement. UN Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen also welcomed the development.

The agreement establishes legally binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in the two-thirds of the ocean beyond national boundaries. The framework aims to create marine protected areas, ensure fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, and strengthen scientific cooperation. Its entry into force on January 17, 2026, will support the GBF pledge to protect 30% of sea areas by 2030. Guterres urged all remaining Member States to join the treaty.

On September 19, 2025, the JICA distributed its first installment of a US$61 million loan agreement with Masdar IPH Wind S.A.E for a 200MW wind farm in Ras Ghareb, Egypt.

The project aims to increase the renewable electricity supply in Egypt and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The financing is co-financed with the EBRD, PROPARCO, and the GCF.

The project includes the construction and operation of the wind farm, as well as transmission lines and substation facilities. The borrower, Masdar IPH Wind S.A.E, has a PPA with the EETC for the full purchase of the electricity generated, guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance of Egypt.

On September 18, 2025, the German Bundestag approved the 2025 federal budget, which included an 8% cut of EUR910 million (US$1.1 billion) to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and a 47% cut of EUR1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) to humanitarian assistance, prompting warnings of drastic consequences from ODA agencies.

The new federal budget totals EUR502.5 billion (US$588.9 billion), with priorities set on social and defense spending. Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan stated that in view of increasing crises, Germany is investing far less in international cooperation. Despite the government's stated commitment to multilateralism, multilateral cooperation was disproportionately affected.

Key changes to development, humanitarian, and health funding include:

• A cut of EUR910 million (US$1.1 billion) to the BMZ, an 8% decrease from 2024;
• A cut of EUR1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) to humanitarian assistance, a 47% decrease from 2024;
• A cut of EUR296 million (US$345 million) to multilateral cooperation, a 13% decrease from 2024;
• A 19% reduction in contributions to the GPEI to EUR30 million (US$35 million);
• A 20% reduction in contributions to the World Bank, amounting to a EUR201 million (US$236 million) cut;
• A 15% increase to the Ministry of Health’s budget compared to 2024; and
• A 4% increase to the BMFTR budget, which funds global health R&D.

ODA organizations warned that the consequences would be drastic. Thorsten Klose-Zuber, Secretary General of the NGO Help, stated the cuts could result in over four million people losing food assistance and 1.5 million people losing basic health care. While Minister Alabali Radovan acknowledged the impact, she sought to distance the German government's actions from the larger-scale aid reductions made by the former US administration under Donald Trump, highlighting the destabilizing effects those cuts had in places like Kenya.

The budget sparked considerable debate in the Bundestag. Jamila Schäfer of the Green Party called the cuts irresponsible. In contrast, Inge Grässle of the CDU argued that good results could still be achieved with the new funding levels. The far-right AfD party had argued for even more severe cuts, with lawmaker Mirco Hanker arguing that development spending was a 'waste of taxpayers' money.

Long-term financial planning suggests further reductions for the BMZ, with its budget projected to decline to EUR9.3 billion (US$10.9 billion) by 2029.