Policy Updates

Spain's AECID, fourteen autonomous communities, and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces agreed on March 10, 2026, to allocate EUR2 million (US$2.3 million) from the 2026 Humanitarian Action Convention to Venezuela, Haiti, Mali, Afghanistan, and Sahrawi refugee camps, with each project receiving EUR400,000 (US$464,000.)

The interventions align with Spain's strategic plans in the humanitarian field and are aimed at responding to five humanitarian crises. In the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, Spain will support food aid for more than 133,000 refugees. In Venezuela's Delta Amacuro state, nearly 950 indigenous Warao children will reintegrate into the education system. In Haiti, Spain will assist the most vulnerable among more than 6 million people in urgent need of food, health, protection, and assistance. In Mali, Spain will help displaced people in host communities generate income and rebuild their livelihoods. In Afghanistan, Spain will guarantee maternal health care and protection services for women and girls.

In addition to these projects, a contingency fund has been set aside to respond to new emergencies throughout the year. Since the agreement's implementation in 2023, approximately EUR21 million (US$24 million) has been allocated to people affected by protracted crises and emergencies.

On March 9, 2026, EUR246 million (US$286 million) in grants and credit initiatives across Africa, Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and Latin America were approved during Italy's first Joint Committee on Development Cooperation meeting of 2026, chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli.

In Africa, in line with the Mattei Plan, the Committee approved environmental development programs in Ethiopia, agricultural development initiatives in Burkina Faso, and interventions to support food security in Kenya. The Committee also approved a project to strengthen the healthcare system in Chad, which will be implemented by the Italian National Institute of Health. An information note was approved regarding the resumption of operations of the AICS Project Office in Port Sudan, aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of Italian cooperation in the country.

The Committee approved up to EUR100 million (US$116 million) through Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to strengthen food security in Ukraine, and up to EUR28 million (US$33 million) to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the Western Balkans. Regarding Latin America, the Committee cited a program for inclusive and sustainable digital transition and infrastructure projects for the Padre Machado Dispensary Clinic in Caracas, Venezuela.

Among the development initiatives supported by the Regional Fund, established in 2025, the Committee approved a renewable energy and blue economy program in Kenya co-financed by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, a project to support entrepreneurship in Ethiopia co-financed by the Marche Region, and a sustainable tourism initiative in Angola co-financed by the Umbria Region.

Finally, the Committee approved voluntary contributions to international organizations, including IDLO, OECD Caserta, CIHEAM Bari, UNDESA, and UNICRI.

On March 8, 2026, International Women's Day, Sweden announced more than SEK71 million (US$8 million) to support women's and girls' resilience in Ukraine through UNFPA and UN Women, with Minister for International Development Cooperation and Trade Benjamin Dousa and Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson leading the announcement.

The support will contribute to psychosocial support for women and girls, improved maternal care, and protection for women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Dousa emphasized Ukrainian women's role as the backbone of the country's civilian resilience since Russia's full-scale invasion, while Larsson stated that gender equality is a matter of defense and security and that supporting Ukrainian women is a moral imperative.

UK Minister of State for International Development and Africa Jenny Chapman visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo on March 6, 2026, pledging more than GBP13 million (US$17 million) for peace, humanitarian assistance, and support for survivors of sexual violence, while announcing new investments in clean energy, business finance, and sustainable growth.

Chapman visited Kinshasa and Beni in eastern DRC, meeting President Félix Tshisekedi, Vice Foreign Minister Ayenganagato Noella Ayenganagato, UN peacekeepers, health and humanitarian partners, women peacebuilders, and civil society organizations. During the visit, GBP7 million (US$10 million) was announced in humanitarian support for communities affected by conflict in eastern DRC and the wider region, including:

• GBP3 million (US$4 million) for clean water, hygiene, and protection services
• GBP2 million (US$3 million) for the International Committee of the Red Cross providing emergency healthcare and support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence
• GBP2 million (US$3 million) for the World Food Programme providing emergency food and nutrition assistance for up to 132,000 refugees in Burundi.

An additional GBP6 million (US$8 million) was announced for UNFPA to provide sexual and reproductive health services and support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence through a hospital in the northeastern DRC.

Finally, the UK – DRC Chamber of Commerce was launched during the visit, and a US$25 million (GBP19 million) British International Investment loan was announced to Rawban, the largest commercial bank in the DRC to expand access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. Chapman also confirmed new UK-backed investments in clean energy, including support for Moyi Power to deliver electricity to up to 700,000 people in northern DRC.

Spain and Panama signed a new Partnership for Sustainable Development on February 25, 2026, at the 8^th meeting of the Spanish-Panamanian Joint Cooperation Commission, with State Secretary for International Cooperation Eva Granados and Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation Carlos Guevara Mann formalizing the agreement.

The Partnership focuses Spanish-Panamanian cooperation on four strategic challenges linked to social, ecological, and economic transitions:

• The exchange of knowledge and promotion of scientific, technological, and digital capabilities for sustainable development
• Transformative democratic governance with a focus on gender, care, and participation
• Inclusive, innovative, and resilient economic and territorial development models
• A just ecological transition.

During her trip to Panama, Granados met with regional representatives for Latin America and the Caribbean from the main UN agencies, reaffirming Spain's commitment to multilateralism. She also met with organizations implementing projects funded by Spanish Cooperation, including the Red Cross, HIAS, PAHO, and the Ombudsman's Office.

As of January 2026, the total amount of projects and programs being implemented by AECID in Panama amounted to EUR85 million (US$99 million). Spanish ODA to Panama increased from EUR0.57 million (US$660,000) in 2020 to EUR5.9 million (US$7 million) in 2024.

The European Commission announced the EastInvest Facility on February 25, 2026, a financing platform expected to provide at least EUR28 billion (US$33 billion) in public and private investments to nine EU member states bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.

The EastInvest Facility brings together the EIB Group, the EBRD, the NIB, the CEB, and national promotional banks from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. The facility aims to provide easier access to loans and advisory support for private and public project promoters in EU eastern regions to boost economies, develop trade, and enhance security.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will open the Brussels launch event hosted by Executive Vice-President Rafaelle Fitto. Participants include President of the EIB Nadia Calviño and Prime Ministers Kristen Michal of Estonia, Inga Ruginienė of Lithuania, Evika Siliņa of Latvia, and Ilie Bolojan of Romania. During the launch, financial institutions and national promotional banks will sign a declaration of intent to coordinate lending and advisory support in the eastern border regions.

On February 24, 2026, Sweden announced SEK230 million (US$25 million) in humanitarian support to Ukraine, to address urgent needs for heating, water, shelter, and food through WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, ICRC, and Save the Children.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated that Russia attacked civilian infrastructure on an unprecedented scale during the winter, forcing families to choose between leaving their homes or risking their lives in freezing conditions without electricity in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and other cities. Additionally, UNHCR reported that hundreds of thousands of people could be forced to flee in the coming months if the situation did not improve.

The support package will be distributed as follows:

• SEK75 million (US$8 million) each to WFP and UNHCR;
• SEK65 million (US$7 million) to UNICEF;
• SEK10 million (US$1.1 million) to the ICRC;
• and SEK5 million (US$550,000) to Save the Children.

The organizations will focus on food security, temporary accommodation, children's education, primary healthcare, and mental health support in frontline areas and regions with the greatest needs.

German State Secretary for Development Niels Annen announced on February 24, 2026, that Germany has joined the GNAFC to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to food crises worldwide in collaboration with UN organizations and international partners.

Annen made the announcement during the annual meeting of the WFP in Rome. The State Secretary emphasized that during times of increasing fragmentation and declining financial resources, well-coordinated action by numerous partners remained crucial to avoid new crises and costly countermeasures.

The GNAFC aims to prevent, prepare for, and manage food crises as effectively as possible by using resources efficiently to provide aid where need was greatest. The network contributes to better understanding of food crises through publications such as the annual Global Report on Food Crises, which inform high-level discussions and decision-making bodies including the UN Security Council.

The network also manages National Preparedness Plans developed under the Global Alliance for Food Security and the leadership of the BMZ. The plans identified and communicated impending food crises at early stages to prevent or mitigate crises.

GNAFC members included leading UN organizations such as the FAO, WFP, IFAD, UNICEF, and UNHCR, international financial institutions such as the World Bank, and other partners including the European Commission.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on February 24, 2026, that the UK will provide GBP226 million (US$305 million) in new military, humanitarian, and reconstruction support for Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion.

Starmer convened a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with French President Emmanuel Macron, following their January declaration with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the UK's intent to deploy British troops to Ukraine once peace was secured. A 70-person headquarters for the Multinational Force for Ukraine was operational, backed by GBP200 million (US$270 million) in funding.

The new support package includes:

• GBP20 million (US$27 million) for emergency energy support to protect and repair the energy grid, bringing total UK energy support for Ukraine to GBP490 million (US$662 million).
• GBP6 million (US$8 million) for humanitarian assistance to frontline communities targeting 4.1 million people
• Medical mentoring by British military surgeons, nurses, and physiotherapists for Ukrainian clinicians treating battlefield injuries
• Helicopter instructor training for Ukrainian pilots at a UK air base.

On February 23, 2026, the Netherlands announced Tom Berendsen as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Sjoerd Sjoerdsma as Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation following the formation of the Jetten government, replacing David van Weel and Aukje de Vries respectively.

Berendsen, a member of the CDA party, has represented the Netherlands in the European Parliament since 2019 and served as the party's delegation leader. Berendsen stated that the world was changing and freedom and prosperity were under pressure, emphasizing collaboration with European and international partners to protect the Netherlands' global position.

Sjoerdsma, a member of D66, has served as a member of parliament for over 11 years and previously worked as a diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation emphasized that international cooperation remained crucial for the Netherlands and that the government would opt for strong trade policy and reinvest in development cooperation to strengthen prosperity, resilience, and security while protecting democracy and human rights.