Policy Updates

Canada announced CAD7 million (US$5.0 million) in humanitarian assistance on October 30, 2025, to support emergency relief efforts in the Caribbean region following Hurricane Melissa, including support for humanitarian partners in the region.

Canada allocated CAD5 million (US$3.5 million) of the total to humanitarian partners to provide emergency food, water, sanitation, health services, protection, and logistics services. The government earmarked CAD2 million (US$1.4 million) to the World Food Programme's Caribbean Regional Logistics Hub in Barbados, which dispatched food and relief items to Jamaica. Canada has also offered to deploy relief supplies from its emergency stockpiles via the Red Cross Movement if requested.

Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai stated that Canada's initial response focused on addressing immediate and urgent needs in the Caribbean region, while additional support opportunities are being explored. Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand emphasized that Canada continues to stand with the Caribbean in response to the disaster, focusing not only on immediate relief but also the opportunity to rebuild stronger.

The EU released EUR21.5 million (US$25 million) in humanitarian aid on November 3, 2026, to address the crisis in Venezuela and respond to Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, with Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality Hadja Lahbib emphasizing support for vulnerable populations facing food insecurity, gang violence, and natural disasters.

The EU allocated EUR14.5 million (US$17 million) to address the Venezuela crisis, including spillover effects in neighboring countries such as Colombia. Priority areas included protection, healthcare, and nutrition assistance for Venezuelans inside and outside the country.

Furthermore, EUR5 million (US$6 million) has been allocated for the emergency response to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti. EU humanitarian partners have delivered drinking water, sanitation items, and emergency shelter, while the EU prepared humanitarian airbridge flights and deployed relief stocks through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Also channeled through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany have donated relief supplies including shelters, water and sanitation equipment, protective equipment, and energy support.

The EU earmarked EUR2 million (US$2 million) for people affected by rising gang violence in Haiti, where displaced populations have reached record levels. The earmarked funding has supported food assistance and other forms of support to displaced communities.

The allocation added to EUR149 million (US$170 million) the EU provided to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025, which speaks to the wider ambition of the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit.

Spain has activated humanitarian response through AECID, mobilizing resources to address the impact of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that formed on October 25 and affected an estimated 1.9 million people in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Melissa caused torrential rains, flooding, and landslides across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti. As part of their response, AECID deployed emergency medical teams in coordination with PAHO, including personnel from Madrid's local emergency services.

In Cuba, AECID has mobilized EUR500,000 (US$439,000) to provide shelter, health services, and drinking water following an appeal from IFRC and has sent sent 36 tons of essential supplies worth EUR144,000 (US$126,000), including kitchen and tool kits. In addition to these efforts, emergency agreements with various Spanish NGOs working on the ground have been activated in order to provide a comprehensive response.

Spain is also a donor to OCHA's Central Emergency Response Fund, contributing EUR4.5 million (US$3.9 million) in 2025, which has since allocated US$8 million for Haiti and Cuba. Meanwhile,the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund, which Spain contributed EUR3 million (US$3.4 million) in 2025, allocated CHF80,000 (US$98,000) to the Jamaican Red Cross to support preparedness and early response.

On November 1, 2025, at the 21st Manama Dialogue Conference in Bahrain, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced GBP5 million (US$6.5 million) in urgent humanitarian funding for Sudan, focusing on El-Fasher, where 260,000 people have been cut off from aid following a surge in violence.

Cooper condemned the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, stating that the conflict had been neglected while suffering has increased, and that women and children are bearing the largest brunt of the crisis. The funding will support critical humanitarian services, including emergency food supplies and medical care, while GBP2 million (US$2.6 million) of the total has been allocated to bolster responses supporting survivors of rape and sexual violence.

This funding comes on top of the GBP120 million (US$156 million) the UK has already distributed to Sudan in 2025. The existing funding has supported the delivery of life-saving food and health assistance, as well as support to those facing sexual violence through partners such as the ICRC, Sudan Humanitarian Fund, and Cash Consortium Sudan.

Canada has announced it will expedite the final CAD10 million (US$7 million) portion of its CAD70 million (US$50 million) total contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund on October 31, 2025. Following the decision, members of the Canadian government emphasized the importance of supporting energy security as part of national security.

The early disbursement to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, an initiative led by the Energy Community Secretariat, will help Ukraine repair critical energy infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes. The Energy Community Secretariat has allocated approximately CAD50 million (US$35 million) of Canada's overall contribution to procure and deliver natural gas compressors for Ukraine's Kharkiv region to restore the energy supply and stablize the system ahead of winter.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand stated that energy support proved urgent as Russia targeted essential civilian infrastructure. Secretary of State Randeep Sarai emphasized that the assistance would help Ukrainian energy companies restore essential inventory and maintain stable operations. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson highlighted that energy security is essential for supporting national security.

The funding formed part of CAD22 billion (US$15.6 billion) in economic, military, humanitarian, development, security, stabilization, and immigration assistance Canada has provided to Ukraine so far.

The Netherlands announced EUR25 million (US$28 million) in emergency energy support for Ukraine on October 28, 2025 to address Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aukje de Vries emphasized support for Ukraine's energy sector is crucial as winter approaches.

The EUR25 million (US$28 million) package includes EUR10 million (US$11 million) for emergency repairs and equipment, EUR10 million (US$11 million) for gas purchases abroad, and EUR5 million (US$5.7 million) for spare parts from Dutch companies and organizations.

The emergency support supplemented EUR58 million (US$66 million) in energy assistance already allocated for 2026, which is funding reserve equipment, repairs, and training programs for energy sector workers. The combined support formed part of the Netherlands' EUR252 million (US$252 million) annual non-military aid commitment to Ukraine for 2025 and 2026.

De Vries stated that military support remains crucial, but energy sector support is vital for maintaining Ukraine's economy and society during winter months.

On October 24, 2025, Independent Catherine Connolly was elected as Ireland's 10th president after securing 914,143 first preference votes (63%), defeating Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys and marking a record-breaking victory in Irish presidential election history.

Connolly, a 68-year-old member of the Irish parliament from Galway who has served as a Teachta Dála since 2016, was backed by major left-wing parties despite running as an independent. The result was officially declared at Dublin Castle with a voter turnout of 46%. Connolly pledged to be an inclusive president who would advocate for peace and climate action.

Humphreys won 29% of first preference votes when spoiled votes were excluded, while Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race but remained on the ballot, won 7%. The election saw an unprecedented 213,738 spoiled votes.

Connolly will be inaugurated on November 11, 2025, taking over from President Michael D Higgins, who served the maximum two terms. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the result as an outstanding honour, while Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald called the outcome a stunning victory for the combined opposition.

Publish What You Fund released the report "Progress and Gaps: Transparency of UK Aid Beyond FCDO" report on October 23, 2025 2025, finding that the Home Office was the only UK government department to decrease transparency of ODA spending since 2020, while eight other departments increased or maintained transparency and published 500 additional activities valued at GBP468 million (US$621 million) to the International Aid Transparency Initiative Standard during the review process.

The review, commissioned by the UK government, evaluated transparency of ODA spending by government departments beyond the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Eight departments increased or maintained transparency levels compared to the previous 2020 review.

The Integrated Security Fund and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published to IATI for the first time. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expanded published results data, while the Department of Health and Social Care sustained strong output. The Home Office published less information than in 2020 and failed to update current activities.

By the review's end, most departments published over 95% of their 2024 ODA transactions, except the Home Office, Integrated Security Fund, and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The review noted that only 4% of ODA was published to IATI in 2023, demonstrating that transparency requires long-term attention.

The UN Association of Norway criticized the Norwegian government's proposed NOK100 million (US$10 million) cut in core support to both UNICEF and UNDP in the 2026 state budget, prompting Minister for Development Cooperation Åsmund Aukrust to defend the cuts by asserting that overall UN support would increase.

Aukrust emphasized that the government would continue providing substantial UN support through the Nansen Programme for Ukraine, where UNDP remained a major recipient. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that UNDP received over NOK1.1 billion (US$109 million) through the Nansen Programme for Ukraine in 2025, while UNICEF received NOK230 million (US$13 million) for its Ukraine work, with both organizations expected to receive continued funding in 2026.

Catharina Bu, Secretary General of the United Nations Association of Norway, acknowledged the government's continued support but emphasized that earmarked funds for Ukraine could not compensate for cuts in core support. She argued that core support delivered better results and that flexible funds were essential during the UN's global crisis.

Aukrust acknowledged that UN reform was occurring due to funding cuts across multiple countries, while maintaining that Norway remained a steadfast UN supporter both financially and politically.

On October 21, 2025, Sanae Takaichi was elected as Japan's first female prime minister after securing majorities in both houses of the National Diet of Japan.

Takaichi, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), won the election in the Diet's Lower House with 237 votes against Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda, who had 149 votes. In the Upper House, she was able to capture the election through a runoff vote held after the LDP and Japan Innovation Party (JIP) formed a coalition on October 20.

Prime Minister Takaichi’s new cabinet includes former Defense Minister Minoru Kihara as Chief Cabinet Secretary and former Regional Revitalization Minister Satsuki Katayama as the first female finance minister. Other appointments include Shinjiro Koizumi, who previously led the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, as Defense Minister and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshimitsu Motegi as head of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite suggestions that Takaichi would appoint a record number of women, the cabinet includes only three women including herself.

Takaichi, 64, has served in the Lower House for nearly 30 years, representing a constitutency in Nara Prefecture, and has held several ministerial roles during the administrations of Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe and Fumio Kishida.