Policy Updates

Norway has announced NOK450 million (US$45 million) to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for 2026 and increased 2025 support by NOK20 million (US$2 million) to NOK470 million (US$47 million) on December 2, 2025.

Minister for International Development Åsmund Aukrust stated that CERF is one of the most important mechanisms for providing rapid life-saving assistance and protection to those most in need. Humanitarian needs continued to increase while global funding decreased, with persistent war, conflict, and climate-related disasters driving the growing number of people in need.

Aukrust emphasized that predictable and flexible funding as core support to CERF enabled humanitarian actors to deliver quickly and effectively when crises arose or worsened. CERF was also one of the most important mechanisms for early intervention in advance of crises to minimize consequences of natural disasters.

The UN and partners plan to launch the global humanitarian plan for 2026 in mid-December 2025. Aukrust noted that although Norway is maintaining humanitarian support, total funding is expected to continue to decline.

Sweden announced a SEK1.1 billion (US$122 million) civilian support package to Ukraine on December 2, 2025, to meet reconstruction needs and strengthen resilience ahead of winter, with funding allocated to energy supply, infrastructure repairs, reforms, and healthcare.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa and Minister for Energy and Enterprise Ebba Busch jointly announced the package, stating that Russia has intensified attacks on civilian infrastructure as temperatures drop leaving millions of Ukrainians without access to electricity, heat, and water ahead of the worst winter since 2022.

The package allocated SEK700 million (US$77 million) to the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation for green reconstruction, SEK225 million (US$25 million) to the Energy Community Ukraine Energy Support Fund for power generation and critical infrastructure repairs, and SEK115 million (US$13 million) to the World Bank's Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund for energy and housing infrastructure. Sweden also allocated SEK50 million (US$6 million) to the EBRD to strengthen Ukraine's capacity for EU membership reforms and SEK22 million (US$2 million) for life-saving efforts against HIV and tuberculosis.

On November 28, 2025, the German parliament approved the federal budget for 2026 totaling EUR524.5 billion (US$605.8 billion), allocating EUR10.05 billion (US$11.6 billion) to the BMZ, a decrease of EUR251 million (US$290 million) compared to 2025, confirming a downward trend in ODA.

The Foreign Office's budget increased slightly by EUR132 million (US$152 million) compared with 2025. While humanitarian assistance rose by EUR23 million (US$27 million), it failed to offset the EUR1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) cut in 2025. The Ministry of Health's global health budget decreased by EUR15 million (US$17 million) to EUR117 million (US$135 million), an 11.5% decline.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil already called for a consolidation plan to address a projected EUR12 billion (US$13.9 billion) funding gap in 2027. Long-term projections showed the BMZ budget declining to EUR9.3 billion (US$10.7 billion) by 2028. SEEK Development projected the ODA to gross national income ratio declining from 0.67% in 2024 to 0.43% by 2029.

On November 28, 2025, the Netherlands announced an additional EUR10 million (US$12 million) in additional emergency funding for Sudan through the UN Sudan Humanitarian Fund.

State Secretary for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Aukje De Vries stated that Sudan is experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis, with more than 21 million people facing acute food insecurity and famine declared in parts of the country. Violence in the city of El Fasher and the wider Darfur region has exacerbated humanitarian needs, while delivery of humanitarian supplies is faced with logistical and administrative issues on top of insecurity. The announcement brought total Dutch support for emergency aid to Sudan to over EUR33 million (US$38 million) in 2025, including contributions to the Dutch Relief Alliance and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The Netherlands previously contributed EUR16 million (US$19 million) to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund. The country has also contributed EUR55 million (US$64 million) annually to the UN Emergency Response Fund, which released US$47 million in aid to Sudan in 2025. Over 9 million people have been internally displaced due to the ongoing conflict, with 4 million Sudanese fleeing to neighboring countries.

On November 27, 2025, Australia announced AUD48 million (US$32 million) to support Pacific Island countries in managing increasing HIV infections through technical assistance, disease surveillance, and co-investment in national public health responses.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy, and Minister for International Development Anne Aly jointly announced the program ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1. The officials stated that rising rates of HIV and co-infections like tuberculosis are placing increased pressure on Pacific health systems, societies, and economies, and they reaffirmed Australia's support to ending the global AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The funding will assist Pacific governments to contain the spread of HIV by sharing Australian knowledge and expertise and investing in community-led responses. The announcement complemented broader and longstanding Australian support to strengthen national health systems in the region and beyond.

The program will focus on partnering with Pacific countries to reduce HIV transmission and support people living with HIV. Australia has committed to co-investing with Pacific partners to strengthen nationally led HIV responses and advance resilient health systems capable of responding effectively to HIV.

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.

Australia announced on November 25, 2025 that it will contribute AUD25 million (US$16 million) in funding over five years to strengthen gender-based violence response services through the PAVE initiative, partnering with 11 crisis centers across nine Pacific island countries.

The announcement took place on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The initiative, known as PAVE, will expand essential services for survivors of gender-based violence in the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized that gender-based violence impacts two out of three Pacific women, more than double the global average, with lasting effects including injuries, disability, unplanned pregnancies, disease, and lost productivity. Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy, International Development Minister Anne Aly, and Assistant Pacific Island Affairs Minister Nita Green highlighted Australia's commitment to Pacific-led solutions and safer communities.

The European Commission announced EUR143 million (US$166 million) in humanitarian support on November 24, 2025, as EU and AU leaders met for the 7^th African Union-European Union summit in Angola, responding to continued pressure on relief operations across several crisis zones.

The allocation includes EUR2.5 million (US$3 million) for the Central African Republic, EUR8 million (US$9 million) for Nigeria, EUR30 million (US$35 million) for Ethiopia, EUR30 million (US$35 million) for Somalia, EUR35 million (US$41 million) for South Sudan, and EUR38 million (US$44 million) for the Central Sahel countries.

The emergency funding will support food assistance, water and sanitation, access to healthcare, and helped the most vulnerable communities meet their basic needs.

Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib stated that the EU is stepping up at a moment when global attention has shifted and humanitarian needs remain high, demonstrating continued engagement in places where pressure is rising and support remains essential.

A year-long campaign led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured EUR15.5 billion (US$18.0 billion) to mobilize investments in renewable energy across Africa, along with additional commitments in clean energy generation and household electricity access, announced on November 21, 2025.

The EU led the pledging effort with more than EUR15.1 billion (US$17.5 billion), including contributions from multiple EU member states including Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, and Ireland, as well as significant bilateral contributions by European financial institutions and development finance institutions, and estimated mobilized private investment. Alongside the campaign, the African Development Bank has pledged to allocate at least 20% of their 17th replenishment to renewable energy.

The campaign, organized in collaboration with Global Citizen and with policy support from the IEA, aimed to drive public and private investment in supporting Africa's clean energy transition, expand electricity access, and promote sustainable economic growth and decarbonized industrialization. The effort represented a step toward accelerating the global transition from fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy.

Von der Leyen stated that the investment would turbocharge Africa's clean-energy transition, providing millions more people with electricity access and creating opportunities for thriving markets, new jobs, and reliable clean energy.

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 assistance infrastructure and withdrawal from many multilateral commitments.