Policy Updates

On January 13, 2026, Norway signed a two-year agreement with UNRWA , agreeing to provide NOK175 million (US$17 million) for core support in 2026 and 2027, plus an additional NOK100 million (US$10 million) for humanitarian work in 2026, totaling NOK275 million (US$27 million) in 2026.

Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust and State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik signed the agreement in Oslo with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. The Norwegian leaders reconfirmed Norway's support for Palestinian refugees, stating the agreement sends a clear signal of solidarity with them as well as support for the UN decision to extend UNRWA's mandate, noting that the organization has faced major political and financial challenges.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide announced an emergency support package of EUR340 million (US$395 million) to Ukraine on January 12, 2026, to support the energy sector and help the Ukrainian government maintain critical services.

Norway will channel the funding through established partners including the EBRD and the Energy Community, a European organization that seeks to extend the EU internal energy market to third countries such as Ukraine. In addition, funding will also be channeled through the World Bank's multi-donor trust fund for Ukraine and will be used to pay salaries for teachers, healthcare personnel, and public sector employees as well as pensions and social benefits.

Ukraine's budget deficit in 2025 was covered in part by a loan to be repaid with proceeds from immobilized Russian assets. The budget support provided by Norway to the Ukrainian government administration will help alleviate the situation until the loan mechanism agreed by EU member states in December 2025 is in place.

On January 7, 2026, the US Department of State announced a freeze on assistance to Somalia after accusing Somali officials of destroying a US-funded WFP warehouse and illegally seizing 76 metric tons of donor-funded food aid intended for vulnerable populations.

The warehouse, located in the Mogadishu port area, stored specialized food for malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women, girls, and young children. The US Department of State announced a pause on all ongoing assistance programs benefiting the Somali Federal Government, citing a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft, and diversion of life-saving assistance.

The move occurred as Somalia faces a worsening food crisis, with nearly 4.4 million people projected to face acute food insecurity amid a fast-escalating drought expected to worsen over time. The US has historically served as Somalia's largest bilateral humanitarian donor, obligating US$1.2 billion in humanitarian and other assistance to Somalia in fiscal year 2023 and US$420 million the following year.

Somali authorities confirmed they demolished the warehouse structure but disputed the seizure allegations. The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the commodities remained under WFP custody and control. Furthermore, WFP said it was engaging with authorities and partners to address the issue and ensure safe storage of food commodities.

On January 7, 2026, US President Donald Trump ordered the US to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including 31 UN entities, cutting funding to organizations deemed contrary to US interests and alarming allies concerned about Washington's retreat from multilateralism.

Trump signed a presidential memorandum instructing all US government agencies and departments to cease participating in and funding 35 non- UN organizations and 31 UN entities. The White House stated the withdrawals would end US taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities. The list of affected entities included:

• ECW;
• the IDLO;
• UNFPA;
• UNFCCC;
• IPCC;
• UNDESA;
• UNDEF; and
• UNCTAD.

The decision made no reference to major UN humanitarian agencies, including the IOM, the WFP, UN Human Rights, or UNICEF, though all faced severe US budget cuts during the past year. The announcement followed a February 4, 2025 presidential order directing a review of all international intergovernmental organizations.

On December 27, 2025, Norway announced increased support to the WFP by NOK129 million ( US$12.7 million) for emergency assistance and community resilience efforts in South Sudan, where 6 million people faced hunger.

Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust announced the additional funding will support emergency assistance and efforts to strengthen community resilience amid a severe humanitarian crisis, with 6 million people in South Sudan lacking sufficient food. The humanitarian situation has worsened due to escalating violence, extensive flood damage following a heavy rainy season, and large refugee flows from the war in Sudan. The UN estimated that the number of people facing hunger could exceed half of the population within six months.

Aukrust committed Norway to continued stabilization efforts through emergency assistance and longer-term measures to reduce population vulnerability to hunger. Norway has maintained a long-standing partnership with the WFP in South Sudan. The new agreement ensured that emergency aid reached the most vulnerable while supporting long-term measures to build resilience in local communities.

Norway announced over NOK24 million (US$2 million) on December 10, 2025, in emergency assistance for flood-affected populations in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah and catastrophic flooding that affected nearly 11 million people across South and Southeast Asia.

Minister for International Development Åsmund Aukrust stated that Norway allocated NOK20 million (US$2 million) to the Red Cross movement and the UN system in Sri Lanka to provide shelter, food, health care, and support for rebuilding local communities. Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka on November 28, 2025, bringing heavy rainfall and winds that triggered landslides and severe flooding. The UN estimated that floods and landslides across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Malaysia since November 17, 2025, resulted in approximately 1,600 deaths and displaced 1.2 million people. The disasters destroyed critical infrastructure and increased health risks from water-borne diseases and poor sanitation.

The UN Emergency Relief Fund CERF released US$5 million for flood response in Sri Lanka, with Norway's contribution to the fund corresponding to approximately NOK5 million (US$455,000). Norway also supported the affected population through the WFP crisis response mechanism, funded a UN expert to facilitate relief work, and adapted mine clearance operations through Mines Advisory Group and the HALO Trust to protect populations from explosives displaced by floodwaters.

On December 8, 2025, Sweden announced that development assistance to five countries—Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, Liberia, and Bolivia— will be phased out to redirect at least SEK10 billion (US$1.1 billion) to Ukraine in 2026.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated that Sweden needed to make difficult priority decisions to increase support to Ukraine, which faced pressure at negotiations and on the front lines. In June 2025, Sweden's government allocated nearly SEK1.7 billion (US$187 million) from the development assistance budget to support Ukraine and crucial humanitarian operations globally.

The Swedish government emphasized that assistance would be phased out in a responsible and orderly manner while establishing a transformed partnership focused on trade and foreign policy interests, with humanitarian assistance being unimpacted by the phase out.

As part of the phase-out, Sweden's embassies in Bolivia, Liberia, and Zimbabwe will be closed. Diplomatic relations with these countries will be continued through concurrent accreditation from embassies in neighboring regions.

Australia announced AUD5 million (US$3 million) in additional emergency assistance on December 4, 2025, to support communities affected by cyclones and flooding across the Indo-Pacific region, bringing the country's total humanitarian response to over AUD14 million (US$9 million) since October 2024.

Australia has allocated AUD2.5 million (US$2 million) specifically for Sri Lanka in response to Cyclone Ditwah, increasing Australia's total support for the country to AUD3.5 million (US$2 million). The funding supported emergency relief supplies, shelter, food, water, sanitation, health, and education services for displaced communities. Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Anne Aly emphasized that the assistance prioritized vulnerable groups, including women, girls, and people with disability. Australia delivered the support through Australian NGOs and the UN in coordination with affected countries.

Cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and landslides affected communities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam in recent weeks. The Australian government described the funding as part of the country's commitment to serve as a reliable partner across the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia announced AUD50 million (US$33 million) on December 3, 2025, to strengthen disability rights movements across the Indo-Pacific region through a new initiative called Stronger Movements, Stronger Futures, representing the country's largest international investment dedicated to disability.

The Australian Government designed the initiative to ensure people with disability remain at the center of policy and decision-making at national, regional, and global levels. Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Anne Aly stated that the investment aligned with Australia's International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, which the government released in November 2024. Australia partnered with three organizations of people with disability for the initiative: the International Disability Alliance, Pacific Disability Forum, and ASEAN Disability Forum.

The Australian government announced the funding on International Day of People with Disability. Wong and Aly emphasized that the initiative reflected Australia's commitment to removing barriers and creating opportunities for full participation in society, noting that inclusive societies demonstrate greater potential for economic growth and social cohesion.

Norway has announced NOK450 million (US$45 million) to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for 2026 and increased 2025 support by NOK20 million (US$2 million) to NOK470 million (US$47 million) on December 2, 2025.

Minister for International Development Åsmund Aukrust stated that CERF is one of the most important mechanisms for providing rapid life-saving assistance and protection to those most in need. Humanitarian needs continued to increase while global funding decreased, with persistent war, conflict, and climate-related disasters driving the growing number of people in need.

Aukrust emphasized that predictable and flexible funding as core support to CERF enabled humanitarian actors to deliver quickly and effectively when crises arose or worsened. CERF was also one of the most important mechanisms for early intervention in advance of crises to minimize consequences of natural disasters.

The UN and partners plan to launch the global humanitarian plan for 2026 in mid-December 2025. Aukrust noted that although Norway is maintaining humanitarian support, total funding is expected to continue to decline.