Policy Updates

The Global Fund held its Eighth Replenishment Summit on November 21, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa, co-hosted by the governments of South Africa and the UK on the margins of the G20 Leaders' Summit, securing US$11.3 billion in pledges to sustain the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Partners from more than 30 countries pledged support to save lives and strengthen systems for health, marking the first replenishment held on African soil. The summit demonstrated global solidarity despite fiscal tightening, conflict, and global uncertainty, though total pledges fell short of the ambitious target set in the Investment Case and several donors had yet to confirm their pledges.

The US, the Global Fund's largest donor, committed US$4.6 billion. The UK pledged GBP850 million (US$1.1 billion), while Germany confirmed EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) and Canada pledged CAD1.02 billion (US$723 million). France noted that its support remained unchanged. Spain increased its pledge to EUR145 million (US$167 million), Italy pledged EUR150 million (US$173 million), the Netherlands contributed EUR146 million (US$169 million), and additional pledges came from many other donors. South Africa committed US$37 million, including US$10 million from the private sector. African countries made solidarity commitments totaling US$52 million. G20 member states reached US$9 billion in commitments.

Within the private sector, the Gates Foundation pledged US$912 million, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation pledged US$135 million, and (RED) committed US$75 million. Overall, private sector support reached US$1.3 billion.

On November 17, 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres named Alexander De Croo of Belgium as the new Administrator of UNDP for a four-year term following UN General Assembly confirmation.

Guterres expressed gratitude to De Croo's predecessor, Achim Steiner of Germany, for his leadership and commitment to the organization. Guterres also extended appreciation to Haoliang Xu, Under Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP, who has served as Acting Administrator until the appointment of De Croo.

De Croo served as Prime Minister of Belgium from 2020 to 2025. His tenure included crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic, coordination of Belgium's vaccination rollout and economic recovery strategies, and Belgium's presidency of the Council of the EU during a period of considerable geopolitical strain. Before becoming Prime Minister, De Croo served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2012 to 2020, as Minister of Development Cooperation and Digital Agenda from 2014 to 2020, and as Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2020. De Croo advocated for international cooperation, advanced international development, championed gender equality and digital innovation as drivers of progress, and supported humanitarian relief efforts.

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 August 1, 2025, the French health ministry stated it could not legally intervene to stop the planned destruction of US$10 million in contraceptives held in Belgium, which were purchased by the USAID under former President Joe Biden and set to be destroyed by the administration of President Donald Trump, despite strong public outcry to intervene.

The US decision sparked criticism in France, with rights groups and left-wing politicians urging their government to halt the plan. France's health ministry, however, stated it had no legal basis to seize the products, as the products are not drugs of major therapeutic interest and no supply shortage exists in France. Multiple organizations, including MSI Reproductive Choices, offered to purchase the contraceptives at no cost to the US government, but their offers were rejected.

The contraceptives, mostly long-acting products like IUDs and birth control implants, were intended for countries in SSA and stored in Geel, Belgium. A US State Department spokesperson stated the decision to incinerate the unexpired products was based on the Mexico City Policy. The policy, reinstated in early 2025 by the Trump administration, prohibits providing assistance to NGOs that perform or promote abortions, though none of the products held in Belgium align with that description. The destruction was estimated by the US State Department to cost US$167,000.

On April 23, 2025, Belgium and Sweden, through Enabel and the SIDA, have assumed the Co-Presidency of the PN for 2025–2026.\
The PN, a collaboration of 25 European international cooperation organizations, fosters knowledge exchange, strategic dialogue, and joint initiatives with EU institutions. Under the leadership of Enabel and SIDA, the network will prioritize contributions to the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, focusing on energy, critical raw materials, migration, and digitalization. It will also strengthen partnerships with the private sector and align technical assistance with financial instruments.

Other key initiatives include advancing the Team Europe approach, addressing post-war reconstruction in Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria, and engaging in EU-level events such as the Global Gateway Forum. This Co-Presidency aims to enhance the EU’s collective response to global challenges through strategic and visible international cooperation.

On October 2, 2024, Belgium announced a US$10 million contribution to the UNDP to support responses to global crises, including those in the Sahel, Ukraine, and Gaza.

These unearmarked funds will also support flagship programs including the Climate Promise, Crisis Offer, and Gender Strategy, aimed at tackling the root causes of crises. These initiatives will advance UNDP's Strategic Plan 2025, including their efforts to support countries' implementation of the UN SDGs.

The contribution also strengthens UNDP's oversight and accountability functions, ensuring that programs are delivered effectively and with a high level of transparency.