Policy Updates

On October 13, 2025, following the declaration of a national HIV emergency in PNG in June 2025, the Australian government announced it would nearly triple its annual HIV development funding to the country to almost AUD10 million (US$6 million) for the 2025/2026 financial year.

The announcement was made by Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Nita Green during a visit to the newly renovated St Therese HIV clinic in Port Moresby. The increased funding will focus on prevention through awareness campaigns, increased testing, and expanded access to prevention measures. The support will also fund youth-led education programs and tailored services for women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by the virus.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stated that the support reflects the close partnership between the two countries and the need to work together to safeguard the region. The new funding complements Australia’s ongoing support for regional partners like UNAIDS, Health Equity Matters, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy and Green reiterated Australia's commitment to working with PNG to improve health outcomes and respond to the HIV situation with urgency.

On October 10, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister, four days after accepting his resignation, amidst opposition from other political parties.

Lecornu accepted the reappointment and committed to ensuring France has a budget by the end of the year. President Macron reportedly granted Lecornu full authority for negotiations with political parties and for proposing government appointments.

Following his reappointment, Lecornu was scheduled to address parliament on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, to outline his budget priorities. The address was aimed at securing support from the Socialist party to avoid losing a no-confidence vote. The far-left and far-right parties had already filed no-confidence motions, with a vote expected on Thursday, October 16, 2025. The Socialists also indicated plans to file their own no-confidence bill.

On October 7, 2025, the Irish government announced its Budget 2026, which includes a record EUR840 million (US$971 million) for ODA, an increase of EUR30 million (US$34 million) from the previous year.

The budget increase aims to bolster Ireland's response to global humanitarian crises, with Tánaiste Simon Harris highlighting a stronger focus on conflicts in Gaza and Sudan. The additional funding will also target child malnutrition and support healthcare and education initiatives in partner countries. Highlighting the scale of current humanitarian and development needs, Minister of State Neale Richmond TD remarked that the system designed to address these challenges is under severe threat. He indicated that the increased Irish Aid budget is a testament to Ireland’s firm resolve to work collaboratively to improve lives worldwide.

Budget 2026 will also support the opening of five new embassies and consulates in Belgrade, Chisinau, Sarajevo, Malaga, and Melbourne to support Irish citizens and business around the world and strengthen Ireland's international footprint. Additional funding has been designated to support international market diversification amid growing trade challenges, particularly by strengthening Ireland's presence in the US.

On October 6, 2025, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned just hours after forming his new government, making him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history.

The resignation occurred shortly after Lecornu unveiled a cabinet that was almost identical to his predecessor's, François Bayrou, which prompted sharp criticism from within the governing coalition. In a statement, Lecornu said that conditions were not fulfilled to carry out the functions of prime minister and denounced partisan appetites that forced his resignation.

The event extends a period of political turmoil in France that began after French President Emmanuel Macron's snap elections in the summer of 2025 resulted in a fractured parliament. Lecornu's two immediate predecessors, Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were also ousted in standoffs over a proposed austerity budget. Following the news, opposition leaders called for the dissolution of the National Assembly or Macron's resignation.

On October 3, 2025, the Swedish government announced changes to its development assistance for Syria, extending its strategy until 2027 and increasing funding by SEK295 million (US$30 million) to support public institutions, reconstruction, and economic recovery following the fall of the Assad regime.

The revised strategy allows for direct support to Syrian public institutions and government agencies to aid in the country's reconstruction, promote economic recovery, and foster democratic development. According to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, the changes are intended to support the Syrian people in rebuilding their country and facilitate the return of displaced persons.

The decision came in response to new opportunities for rebuilding Syria after the collapse of the former regime. Significant challenges remain, with 90% of the population living below the poverty line and nearly 14 million people displaced. The new funding complements existing support for civil society, women's rights organizations, and independent media.

From September 30 to October 1, 2025, the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the 8th Busan Global Partnership Forum in Seoul, bringing together around 300 participants from 102 governments and 11 partner countries to advance the agenda of development effectiveness in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

With only five years remaining to achieve the 2030 goals, participants discussed the increasing importance of the development effectiveness agenda. Key topics included enhancing cooperation effectiveness, revitalizing the global discussion on the topic, and expanding inclusive partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

Co-Chairs of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation, including Secretary General Daniel Epembe Mosango of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Vice Minister Febrian Ruddyard of Indonesia, emphasized the need for all stakeholders to work together to deliver concrete results.

First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoonjoo and Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jina reaffirmed Korea's commitment to being a responsible global partner and improving the quality and impact of its development cooperation. Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Kweon Ki-hwan also underlined Korea’s dedication to expanding its Human Resource Development ODA.

On September 29, 2025, the German government announced it provided a record EUR11.8 billion (US$13.8 billion) in international climate finance in 2024, meeting its annual pledge with EUR6.1 billion (US$7.2 billion) from the federal budget and mobilizing over EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) in private funding for the first time.

The total amount represents Germany's contribution to the international commitment of US$100 billion annually from industrialized nations. The EUR6.1 billion (US$7.2 billion) from the budget, an increase from EUR5.7 billion (US$6.7 billion) in 2023, was primarily funded by the BMZ at 79%. The remaining funds came from the IKI.

Mobilized funds totaled EUR5.7 billion (US$6.7 billion), which included EUR4.6 billion (US$5.4 billion) in market-rate loans from development banks KfW and DEG. Notably, private funding mobilized for climate investments more than doubled, reaching over EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) compared to EUR475 million (US$556 million) in 2023. Approximately EUR1.5 billion (US$1.8 billion) of the budget funds were allocated to climate-related biodiversity projects. The announcement was made ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

On September 26, 2025, at a meeting of the AHLC, Norway and 11 other countries launched the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the PA, with Norway contributing NOK40 million (US$4 million) to a crisis package.

The coalition, which also includes Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK, was established to stabilize the PA’s finances and preserve its ability to govern. The launch took place during an AHLC meeting in New York chaired by Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa attending virtually. The coalition demanded that Israel immediately release all Palestinian clearance revenues, which constitute over 60% of the revenue the PA needs.

The crisis package aims to support essential services like hospitals and schools. Norway’s contribution is in addition to NOK200 million (US$20 million) in budget support transferred earlier in 2025. The coalition will also promote a sustainable and coordinated approach with IFIs to support reforms and ensure accountability, affirming the effort as an investment in regional peace and the two-state solution.

On September 25, 2025, the US administration issued a presidential memorandum to investigate and disrupt networks and organizations, including nonprofits, that the administration views as supporting political violence, coinciding with Department of Justice instructions to investigate George Soros's Open Society Foundations for potential racketeering charges.

The memorandum, titled Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence cited the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attacks on federal officers, and over US$2 billion in property damage from riots as justification for the new measures. The strategy calls for Joint Terrorism Task Forces to investigate funders and employees of organizations aiding in such activities. The memorandum also instructed the US Treasury and the IRS to identify and disrupt financial networks and ensure that tax-exempt entities, many of which are registered as nonprofits, are not directly or indirectly financing political violence.

The Open Society Foundations, which has distributed more than US$23 billion worldwide, condemned the instructions to the Department of Justice as politically motivated attacks on civil society meant to silence free speech. Soros founded the origins of the organization in 1984 to support democracy, especially in communist and former communist countries. The foundation funds groups promoting human rights, democracy, and equity.

The National Council of Nonprofits echoed the Open Society Foundations' concerns, stating that there was no evidence linking nonprofit organizations and foundations to recent political violence. Nearly 200 philanthropic organization released a joint open letter condemning political violence and warning against using the tragedy for partisan gain.

On September 25^th, 2025, during UNGA80 in New York, the Government of Norway committed NOK55 million (US$5.5 million) to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership for 2025, to expand access to contraceptives and maternal health supplies in 54 countries.

The new funding is intended to help avert an estimated 378,000 unintended pregnancies, more than 1,000 maternal deaths, and more than 6,000 child deaths. Norwegian Minister of International Development Åsmund Grøver Aukrust stated that Norway is committed to protecting sexual and reproductive rights and ensuring access to vital health services as a prerequisite for sustainable development.

The investment will leverage the UNFPA Supplies Partnership’s Match Fund, which encourages countries to increase their own spending on reproductive health. This has led to a fivefold increase in domestic spending on contraceptives since 2020.