Policy Updates

The European Commission announced the EastInvest Facility on February 25, 2026, a financing platform expected to provide at least EUR28.0 billion (US$33.0 billion) in public and private investments to nine EU member states bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.

The EastInvest Facility brings together the EIB Group, the EBRD, the NIB, the CEB, and national promotional banks from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. The facility aims to provide easier access to loans and advisory support for private and public project promoters in EU eastern regions to boost economies, develop trade, and enhance security.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will open the Brussels launch event hosted by Executive Vice-President Rafaelle Fitto. Participants include President of the EIB Nadia Calviño and Prime Ministers Kristen Michal of Estonia, Inga Ruginienė of Lithuania, Evika Siliņa of Latvia, and Ilie Bolojan of Romania. During the launch, financial institutions and national promotional banks will sign a declaration of intent to coordinate lending and advisory support in the eastern border regions.

German State Secretary for Development Niels Annen announced on February 24, 2026, that Germany has joined the GNAFC to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to food crises worldwide in collaboration with UN organizations and international partners.

Annen made the announcement during the annual meeting of the WFP in Rome. The State Secretary emphasized that during times of increasing fragmentation and declining financial resources, well-coordinated action by numerous partners remained crucial to avoid new crises and costly countermeasures.

The GNAFC aims to prevent, prepare for, and manage food crises as effectively as possible by using resources efficiently to provide aid where need was greatest. The network contributes to better understanding of food crises through publications such as the annual Global Report on Food Crises, which inform high-level discussions and decision-making bodies including the UN Security Council.

The network also manages National Preparedness Plans developed under the Global Alliance for Food Security and the leadership of the BMZ. The plans identified and communicated impending food crises at early stages to prevent or mitigate crises.

GNAFC members included leading UN organizations such as the FAO, WFP, IFAD, UNICEF, and UNHCR, international financial institutions such as the World Bank, and other partners including the European Commission.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on February 24, 2026, that the UK will provide GBP226 million (US$305 million) in new military, humanitarian, and reconstruction support for Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion.

Starmer convened a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with French President Emmanuel Macron, following their January declaration with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the UK's intent to deploy British troops to Ukraine once peace was secured. A 70-person headquarters for the Multinational Force for Ukraine was operational, backed by GBP200 million (US$270 million) in funding.

The new support package includes:

• GBP20 million (US$27 million) for emergency energy support to protect and repair the energy grid, bringing total UK energy support for Ukraine to GBP490 million (US$662 million).
• GBP6 million (US$8 million) for humanitarian assistance to frontline communities targeting 4.1 million people
• Medical mentoring by British military surgeons, nurses, and physiotherapists for Ukrainian clinicians treating battlefield injuries
• Helicopter instructor training for Ukrainian pilots at a UK air base.

On February 23, 2026, the Netherlands announced Tom Berendsen as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Sjoerd Sjoerdsma as Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation following the formation of the Jetten government, replacing David van Weel and Aukje de Vries respectively.

Berendsen, a member of the CDA party, has represented the Netherlands in the European Parliament since 2019 and served as the party's delegation leader. Berendsen stated that the world was changing and freedom and prosperity were under pressure, emphasizing collaboration with European and international partners to protect the Netherlands' global position.

Sjoerdsma, a member of D66, has served as a member of parliament for over 11 years and previously worked as a diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation emphasized that international cooperation remained crucial for the Netherlands and that the government would opt for strong trade policy and reinvest in development cooperation to strengthen prosperity, resilience, and security while protecting democracy and human rights.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard presented Sweden's 2026 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag on February 18, 2026, prioritizing support to Ukraine, increased pressure on Russia, stronger security and trade cooperation, and gender equality.

Sweden maintains support to Ukraine as its foremost foreign policy priority, providing SEK114.0 billion (US$12.0 billion) in total assistance since Russia's invasion, and is committed to additional support.

Additionally, Sweden will continue to build closer relations with Allies and partners within Nordic and Nordic-Baltic cooperation and within the EU, as well as contributions to NATO. Moreover, Sweden expressed support for free trade agreements between the EU and India and between the EU and MERCOSUR, emphasizing that these free trade agreements are at the nexus of technology, innovation, trade, and security.

Gender equality remains a core value of Swedish foreign policy and development assistance. Stenergard noted that Swedish ODA must help increase access to pre-natal and maternity care, comprehensive sexual education, as well as measures to combat all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

On February 17, 2026, the EU announced EUR81 million (US$95 million) in humanitarian funding for the African Great Lakes region as conflict in eastern DRC continues to escalate, driving mass displacement across the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Of the total, EUR68 million (US$80 million) has been allocated for humanitarian assistance inside the DRC. The funding will support food assistance, emergency health and nutrition care, water and sanitation services, basic shelter for displaced families, and protection services including care for survivors of violence and child protection.

The remaining EUR13 million (US$15 million) will support the regional refugee response and disaster preparedness across the region, helping partners respond to new displacement and emergencies linked to the crisis.

In tandem with the announcement, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib visited the DRC, Burundi, and Rwanda to assess humanitarian needs and advocate for humanitarian access with conflict parties.

On February 6, 2026, the EU allocated EUR123.3 million (US$147 million) in humanitarian aid for Latin America and the Caribbean to deliver life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations and bolster disaster preparedness and response in a region where 15.6 million people required humanitarian assistance in 2025.

The EU directed:

• EUR52 million (US$62 million) to provide relief to Venezuelan people in need throughout the region and host communities;
• EUR23 million (US$27 million) to address the humanitarian impact of escalating armed violence in Haiti;
• EUR17 million (US$20 million) to support people affected by armed conflict and displacement in border areas in Colombia;
• EUR16.3 million (US$19 million) for disaster preparedness and humanitarian crisis response across South America;
• EUR11 million (US$13 million) for vulnerable people affected by violence, forced displacement, and food insecurity in Central America and Mexico; and
• EUR4 million (US$5 million) for the Caribbean with focus on Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and countries hosting refugees and asylum seekers.

The EU emphasized the critical importance of the aid as severe budget cuts reduced the UN 2026 target by half.

On February 5, 2026, the Swedish government announced a SEK1.0 billion (US$110 million) energy support package for Ukraine to address urgent energy needs and rebuild infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes during winter, with SEK600 million (US$66 million) allocated to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and SEK400 million (US$44 million) to UNDP.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated that Russian strikes had knocked out electricity, heat, and water supplies for millions of Ukrainians during temperatures of around 20 degrees below zero. Furthermore, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch noted that Russia used energy infrastructure as a weapon against civilians, calling it an ongoing humanitarian crisis. .

The support addresses acute energy production needs and infrastructure reconstruction while fortifying medium- and long-term energy supplies. Through the funding, Ukraine gains to various types of energy equipment including generators, heat pumps, and spare parts.

On January 30, 2026, the European Commission announced EUR63 million (US$75 million) in humanitarian aid to support populations affected by the armed conflict in Myanmar and nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh, as part of the initial 2026 allocation for South and Southeast Asia.

The European Commission directed EUR38.6 million (US$46 million) to Myanmar for food assistance and emergency nutrition, shelter for forcibly displaced people, access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas, mine risk education and assistance for landmine victims, and education in emergencies. The funding addresses high levels of food insecurity as the conflict triggered by the military coup reaches its fifth year.

For Bangladesh to support Rohingya refugees living mostly in Cox's Bazar and host communities, the European Commission earmarked EUR23.4 million (US$28 million) to support food assistance and nutrition, maintenance of camp shelters and facilities, and essential services including healthcare, emergency education, and access to water and sanitation. An additional EUR1 million (US$1 million) will provide life-saving aid to refugees and host communities in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The EU channeled all humanitarian funding through partner organizations including international NGOs and UN agencies.

On January 29, 2026, Australia announced AUD50 million (US$36 million) in humanitarian support to Afghanistan, bringing total assistance since the fall of Kabul in 2021 to AUD310 million (US$220 million), with delivery through the World Food Programme and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development Anne Aly stated nearly 22 million people in Afghanistan required urgent humanitarian support amid one of the world's worst protracted humanitarian crises. The ministers emphasized the Taliban's oppression of women and girls, including limiting access to employment, medical services, education, and public life.

Australia has focused the assistance on supporting women and girls, prioritizing food security, health services, and protecting dignity, safety, and rights.