UN Report Highlights Impact of Global Aid Reductions on Women and Girls

A recent United Nations report has revealed that more than one million women and girls have been deprived of essential aid services over the past 18 months due to significant global aid cuts. The report, released by UN Women, indicates that although the demand for services aimed at women and girls has increased, 90 percent of organizations report being unable to meet these needs because of reduced funding.

Major Donors Reduce Foreign Aid

The United States, once the largest provider of foreign aid, initiated a substantial reduction in foreign assistance under President Donald Trump's administration in 2025. The dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) led to a more than 50 percent decrease in U.S. foreign aid, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This trend has been followed by other major donors such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, who have decreased their contributions due to domestic pressures and increased defense spending.

Crucial Services at Risk

Sofia Calltorp, the chief of humanitarian action at UN Women, emphasized the critical role of women’s organizations in addressing severe humanitarian crises. She stated, "Every dollar withdrawn from women’s organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive."

The UN report surveyed 855 women’s organizations across 52 vulnerable countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, and Afghanistan. It found that 40 percent of these organizations face the risk of temporary or permanent shutdowns within the next year due to insufficient funding. Despite increased demand, 60 percent reported a reduction in the number of women and girls they could serve since January of last year.

Struggling to Meet Increased Needs

Many organizations have been forced to put beneficiaries on waiting lists or turn away women and girls seeking assistance. Almost all organizations noted that the women they serve are experiencing worsening poverty, and many girls are leaving school. Furthermore, as cases of conflict-related sexual violence doubled in the past year, 62 percent of organizations reported being unable to maintain safe spaces or continue providing gender-based violence services.

The findings underscore the urgent need for renewed commitment and funding from the international community to support women’s organizations that are crucial in managing humanitarian crises and improving the lives of women and girls worldwide.

Source: Original Article