Policy Updates

On August 31, 2025, the UK government announced GBP3 million (US$4 million) in new funding through the UNFPA to provide life-saving support for pregnant women, new mothers, and girls in Gaza.

The announcement came amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and famine in parts of Gaza. Minister for the FCDO David Lammy stated that the healthcare system has been decimated and called for an immediate ceasefire and a surge in humanitarian assistance. The UK government urged the Israeli government to allow sufficient aid into Gaza to address the man-made catastrophe.

The new funding is part of a GBP60 million (US$82 million) humanitarian funding package for the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the financial year. The support, delivered through the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency ( UNFPA), will deploy midwives and deliver emergency medical supplies. UNFPA Arab States Regional Director Laila Baker noted that the contribution will support mobile maternity units

On August 29, 2025, the White House announced its intention to cancel US$4.9 billion in foreign assistance funding, a move that drew criticism from both Republican and Democratic members of Congress.

The administration plans to use a so-called pocket rescission to cancel the funds, which were previously approved by Congress. The maneuver involves the executive branch requesting to cancel funds so late in the fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2025, that the money expires before Congress has the required time to formally reject the cut.

The clawback includes:

• US$3.2 billion in USAID development assistance;
• US$521 million in State Department contributions to international organizations;
• US$445 million in separately budgeted peacekeeping funding;
• US$393 million in State Department contributions to peacekeeping activities; and
• US$322 million from the USAID-State Department Democracy Fund.

The move was condemned by members of Congress from both parties. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported the recission, stating the targeted programs were not in the US' interest, and highlighted cuts of US$2.7 million for “inclusive democracy” programs in South Africa and US$4 million for “global LGBTQI+ awareness.” OMB Director Russell T. Vought defended the move as a lawful tool, citing similar actions by past presidents.

The GAO previously ruled during the first Trump administration that such rescissions are illegal, but the issue has not been explicitly decided by courts. The dispute could complicate negotiations for a government funding package for the following fiscal year.

On August 29, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced White House Budget Director Russell Vought will oversee the closure of USAID, which officially ceased its main operations on July 1, 2025.

Rubio stated on social media that USAID is now officially in a close-out mode, with a small set of core programs moved to the State Department. Vought previously led efforts to halt funding not aligned with US President Donald Trump's agenda.

Earlier in the year, Elon Musk and DOGE targeted USAID, alleging widespread fraud and misuse of funds, which Rubio claimed saved US taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Supporters of the former agency argued that it served a critical function by providing food and medical assistance, investing in education and economic programs to stabilize countries, reduce migration, and combat terrorist influence.

On August 27, 2025, Australian Minister for International Development Anne Aly announced an early pledge of AUD266 million (US$174 million) to the Global Fund's 8^th Replenishment in Canberra, .

The pledge was framed as a key part of Australia's strategy to combat infectious diseases and build stronger health systems in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The Global Fund's Board Chair Roslyn Morauta welcomed the contribution, noting it as a signal of regional leadership in global health.

With this contribution, Australia became the sixth donor to make an early pledge to the 8^th Replenishment. Since 2002, the Global Fund partnership has invested over US$13.1 billion in the Indo-Pacific region, which it credits with saving 26.5 million lives. The investment aims to build more resilient and inclusive health systems to ensure regional health security and pandemic preparedness.

On August 27, 2025, Norway's delegation, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, released its priorities for the 80^th UNGA, focusing on fostering multilateral cooperation through the UN80 Initiative, promoting international law, and advancing the 2030 Agenda, while reaffirming its commitment to allocate 1% of GNI to ODA.

Amid geopolitical upheaval and a financial crisis at the UN, Norway will focus on countering polarization and supporting the UN80 reform initiative to make the organization more effective. The Norwegian delegation, which also includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and Minister of International Development Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, will work to restore trust in the multilateral system, which is under pressure from Russia's war in Ukraine and reduced funding from major donors like the US.

Key priorities include promoting respect for international law, defending human rights with a focus on gender equality, and enhancing the UN's capacity for peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Norway will also continue to push for disarmament and maintain the UN's capacity to respond to humanitarian crises. The delegation will advance the 2030 Agenda, with special emphasis on financing for development, climate action, global health, and ocean sustainability.

On August 25, 2025, German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan began her visit to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia to discuss the future of Gaza and regional stabilization, completing her trip on August 28, 2025.

The visit was a continuation of Germany's efforts to address the humanitarian situation and plan for Gaza's future. The Minister's goal was to gather support from regional partners for the significant joint effort required for rebuilding.

In Ramallah, Alabali Radovan met with Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and other ministers to discuss short-term recovery and long-term governance under the Palestinian Authority. In Jordan, she met with Planning Minister Zeina Toukan and UNRWA's Deputy Head Natalie Boucly. Talks in Saudi Arabia were planned with the Saudi Fund for Development, the counterpart of Germany’s KfW. The Minister also met with families of Israeli hostages in Tel Aviv.

On August 26, 2025, the UNDP Climate Finance Network and UNCDF convened over 150 participants from 20 countries in Bangkok for a dialogue on mobilizing inclusive climate finance to build resilience in the Asia-Pacific region.

The dialogue addressed the Asia-Pacific region's extreme vulnerability to climate change and the widening gap between funding needs and available resources. UNDP Deputy Regional Director Christophe Bahuet noted the importance of equipping governments with sustainable finance mechanisms to respond to crises. With official development assistance projected to decline, UNCDF's Maria Perdomo stressed the urgent need to mobilize private sector capital for climate action, particularly in the most vulnerable countries.

Key partners, including the UK's FCDO and Sweden, echoed the dialogue's urgent message. Head of Climate and Environment, Indo-Pacific Regional Department at the FCDO John Warburton emphasized that adaptation finance is a matter of survival and fairness. Annamaria Oltorp from the Embassy of Sweden highlighted the need to mobilize resources and forge stronger public-private partnerships to drive collective climate action.

The conference also highlighted successful regional initiatives, such as Indonesia raising over US$10 billion through green bonds and Thailand raising over US$800 million from sustainability-linked bonds. The three-day event aims to find pathways for stronger collaboration and new financing initiatives to accelerate access to climate finance for vulnerable communities.

On August 25, 2025, German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, reaffirming Germany's support with a pledge of EUR9 billion (US$10.5 billion) for 2025-2026.

During the visit, Klingbeil stated that Germany, as Ukraine's largest European supporter, would continue to stand by its side throughout the ongoing war. He emphasized that Ukraine can continue to rely on Germany's military and financial assistance.

Klingbeil stressed the importance of building a strong Ukrainian military and increasing domestic defense production to enable Ukraine to defend itself and deter future aggression. He also called for reliable security guarantees to ensure lasting peace for both Ukraine and the broader European continent, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin should have no illusions about Germany's support crumbling.

On August 25^th, 2025, Spain's MAEC signed three new SDPF with the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Honduras to consolidate cooperation aligned with the partner countries' national priorities.

The agreements are part of the reform of Spain’s sustainable development cooperation policy, implementing Law 1/2023 and the Spanish Cooperation Master Plan 2024-2027. The frameworks align with each country's priorities, focusing on social, ecological, and economic transitions.

Key areas of focus include reducing extreme poverty in Honduras, strengthening the rule of law in the Dominican Republic, and advancing gender equality in Paraguay.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares stated that the agreements strengthen Spain's commitment to the 2030 Agenda. New frameworks were also adopted with Peru, Ecuador, and the Philippines. Frameworks with Senegal, Colombia, and Guatemala are in progress, with Jordan to follow.

On August 24, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Ukraine to reaffirm the partnership between their countries, agreeing to deepen security and economic cooperation.

The leaders discussed strategies for a lasting peace in Ukraine and committed to strengthening bilateral ties in security, defense, and economic domains. They called for an immediate ceasefire as a step toward a genuine peace process and emphasized the need for reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.

Under the 2024 Agreement on Security Cooperation, Canada will continue to provide military and technical assistance to Ukraine, including training and support for demining efforts. The two countries will begin annual consultations between their foreign and defense ministries before the end of 2025 to advance the agreement.

Canada and Ukraine also agreed to joint defense projects and the co-production of defense materials. They committed to expanding trade and investment to support Ukraine's recovery and signed a new agreement to enhance cooperation between their customs authorities. Canada will continue to support efforts to return unlawfully deported Ukrainian children and hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable.