Policy Updates

On April 5, 2025, Canada announced CAD20 million (US$14 million) in humanitarian assistance for Myanmar following the earthquake.

The funding will support emergency relief efforts, including food, water, and healthcare, delivered through trusted partners like the UN and the Red Cross. Canada’s assistance aims to address the urgent needs of displaced families and those affected by the collapse of critical infrastructure in the hardest-hit areas.

On March 28, 2025, the US administration announced plans to merge USAID into the State Department, dissolving it as an independent agency and reducing staffing to a statutory minimum of 15 positions, and additionally detailed specific cuts to USAID grants and multilateral funding.

Congress must pass new legislation to officially eliminate the agency. The State Department will create an Office of Global Food Security to manage food security and humanitarian programs previously handled by USAID. The remaining global health programs will be supervised by the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy. Other programs will be managed by regional bureaus within the State Department.

Deputy administrator of policy and programs at USAID Jeremy Lewin informed staff that employment contracts would be severed by July 1 or September 2, 2025. By July 1, 2025, the State Department will fully take over USAID’s remaining programming. By September 2, 2025, USAID’s operations will transfer to State or shut down completely.

The administration also provided Congress with documents listing 5,341 terminated USAID programs and 898 active ones, detailing that 86% of programs have been terminated, slightly more than the 83% cut reported on March 10, 2025. The total value of terminated programs is US$75.9 billion, with US$48.2 billion already obligated and US$27.7 billion yet to be assigned.

UN institutions and other multilaterals saw steep cuts, with terminated awards totaling US$4.1 billion to 14 UN agencies, the IBRD, and Gavi.

On March 21, 2025, Canada announced CAD30 million (US$22 million) in funding to address urgent humanitarian needs in Lebanon, including food, medical and health services, shelter, and clean water.

The funding will be delivered through partners such as the UN, the Red Cross, and NGOs. This pledge is part of Canada’s broader humanitarian response, bringing its total funding for Lebanon in 2025 to CAD41 million (US$29 million). The support aims to alleviate the severe impacts of ongoing conflict, including food insecurity, displacement, and attacks on healthcare infrastructure.

Canada called for all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement and ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Lebanon during this crisis.

On February 1, 2025, the UK government has announced GBP22 million (US$26 million) in additional humanitarian assistance for Myanmar in 2024-2025 to support nearly one million vulnerable people.

This funding will provide essential healthcare, nutrition assistance, and treatment for diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. The support will also strengthen climate resilience by improving food security, water management, and disaster preparedness, helping communities withstand extreme weather events.

On December 30, 2024, the Minister for Development announced GBP61 million (US$79 million) for humanitarian assistance in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia as part of the UK government’s Plan for Change by tackling migration flows upstream and addressing the climate emergency and global poverty.

The UK is directing GBP22 million (US$28 million) towards responding to escalating crises in the Middle East and GBP34 million (US$43 million) will go towards alleviating high levels of humanitarian need in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, the DRC, Somalia, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Additionally, up to GBP5 million (US$6 million) will be used to respond to the devastation wreaked by Tropical Cyclone Chido. It is estimated that 1.5 million people have been affected by the recent storms, with crops, infrastructure, health facilities.

The UK will provide GBP5 million (US$6 million) to reach around 350,000 of those affected in Mozambique, focusing on meeting immediate emergency shelter, clean water, and sanitation needs.

On December 17, 2024, the Government of Japan committed US$10 million for the Project for the Recovery of Maternal and Child Health Equipment in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and US$19 million for the Flood Management Enhancement Project in the Indus Basin. The agreements were signed in Islamabad between Japanese officials and Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The health project focuses on equipping 21 facilities in the Hazara Division to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates by improving medical services such as institutional deliveries, caesarean sections, and ultrasound examinations by 2029. It aims to enhance care quality, boost trust in the healthcare system, and ensure equitable access to high-quality services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The flood management project will install 45 hydrological and hydraulic observation networks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and rehabilitate river structures to mitigate economic losses from flash floods in the Indus River basin. Integrating the "Build Back Better" approach strengthens disaster resilience and improves river management data. Japan’s contributions align with its US$77 million pledge made at the Geneva Conference, underscoring its commitment to improving health and disaster preparedness in Pakistan.

On December 17, 2024, Norway announced a new substantial humanitarian assistance package for Ukraine, allocating nearly NOK1 billion (US$91 million) to seven Norwegian humanitarian organizations.

This funding, distributed through the Nansen Program, will support the efforts of the Norwegian Red Cross, Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People's Aid, Caritas Norge, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages, the refugee and civilian response force, and NORCAP.

These organizations, working closely with Ukrainian authorities and civil society, are providing critical assistance to vulnerable groups, including children, refugees, and internally displaced people. The funding will ensure access to essential services such as food, shelter, electricity, heating, clean water, sanitation, education, healthcare, psychosocial support, and protection against GBV.

On December 12, 2024, USAID announced an additional US$29 million in support for Somalia to support resilience and food security in Somalia, where 7 million people require assistance due to natural disasters, disease, insecurity, and poverty.

The funding is part of two 5-year programs aiming to assist 880,000 vulnerable households in South Central Somalia. USAID is partnering with World Vision and Save the Children to provide services including health, WASH, and nutrition, while also strengthening households' ability to cope with future challenges."

On December 9, 2024, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its new strategy for Norway’s engagement in the Sahel region.

Norway has been actively involved in the Sahel for decades, providing significant humanitarian and development assistance. Recent years have been marked by growing instability, violent extremism, and human suffering due to conflict, climate change, and weak structural governance.

The Sahel region, as defined by the strategy, includes Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Chad. This new approach will guide Norway’s efforts in the region through 2030.

With substantial ODA already allocated to these nations, the strategy outlines how Norway aims to help reverse negative trends and establish a foundation for long-term sustainable development.

A key element of the strategy is the establishment of a Norwegian embassy in Dakar, Senegal. This step will provide a broader regional perspective for Norway’s Sahel engagement and allow for preventive efforts in neighboring coastal states.

The strategy prioritizes three main areas of focus:

• Humanitarian response and sustainable development: Addressing urgent humanitarian needs, supporting local resilience, preventing irregular migration and promoting inclusive sustainable development;
• Peacebuilding and stabilization: Preventing and combating violent extremism, supporting peacebuilding and stabilization efforts and encouraging the participation of women and youth in peace and security initiatives; and
• Democracy and gender equality: Promoting good governance, mobilizing national resources, fostering democratic development, and upholding human rights and gender equality.

On December 9, 2024, Canada announced over CAD88 million (US$62 million) in funding over the next three years to the UN CERF, ahead of the high-level pledging event.

The funding aims to address the unprecedented global humanitarian needs, with an estimated 300 million people worldwide requiring emergency food, water, medical, sanitation, and protection services.