Policy Updates

On June 26, 2026, Sweden increased its 2026 contribution to the Global Fund by SEK70 million (US$7 million), raising its total 2026 contribution from SEK683 million (US$68 million) to SEK753 million (US$75 million), an increase of more than 10%.

The Global Fund welcomed Sweden’s additional contribution toward the Eighth Replenishment, indicating the investment would expand access to prevention, treatment, and care for HIV, TB, and malaria with a focus on equity and reaching vulnerable populations, while strengthening health and community systems.

The Global Fund noted Sweden’s contribution will also bolster frontline health capacities in countries facing overlapping threats, including support for outbreak responses such as Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and sustain essential services where HIV, TB, and malaria remain leading causes of illness and death. the Global Fund also underscored that these investments strengthen global health security and pandemic preparedness as partner countries leverage Global Fund–supported systems

On June 16, 2026, Germany announced an additional €13 million (US$14.8 million) to respond to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, including €9 million (US$10.3 million) for regional and country partners and €4 million (US$4.6 million) for the World Health Organization.

At a high-level virtual meeting convened by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan said Germany had mobilized further emergency measures to stabilize the situation and would continue working with partners to contain the current outbreak and future health crises.

Of the €13 million (US$14.8 million), €9 million (US$10.3 million) is earmarked to support the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Africa CDC, the East African Community, local UN programs, and non-governmental organizations. An additional €4 million (US$4.6 million) will increase Germany’s contribution to the WHO for emergency measures.

Alabali-Radovan also noted continued German support for multilateral health actors, including the Pandemic Fund, Gavi, CEPI, and CERF.

On June 15, 2026, Sweden announced SEK120 million (US$12.6 million) to WHO, focusing on the ongoing Ebola outbreak via strengthened global health security and scaled up emergency operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated the contribution was intended to bolster a rapid response to contain the outbreak and save lives. Meanwhile, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed said the WHO’s coordinating role was central to the response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that the funding would help the organization expand operations in affected countries.

Australia has committed AUD5 million (US$3.5 million) on June 4, 2026 to support the global response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for International Development, Small Business, and Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly said the funding reflects Australian commitment to global health security and to preventing outbreaks from escalating into wider crises. The funding is being channeled through the IFRC and WHO to provide medical care, supplies, water and sanitation services, outbreak surveillance, preparedness support, and stronger local health systems.

On June 3, 2026; the UK announced the launch of the Multi-Hazard Research Network to support the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and provide rapid expert advice during crises as well as funding up to GBP5 million (US$7 million) for research into diagnostics and treatments for the Bundibugyo species of Ebolavirus.

Led by the Institute of Development Studies, the new network brought together experts from the UK and international partners to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response to emerging infectious disease outbreaks and other crises. The British government said the network’s Rapid Response Unit has already supported the Ebola response through data analysis, social and behavioral science research, lessons from previous outbreaks, local context analysis, and outbreak modeling. Meanwhile, the new GBP5 million (US$7 million) commitment will support research and development of treatments and rapid diagnostics, alongside existing support to CEPI for vaccine candidates.

On June 2, 2026, former Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg was elected Chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2026-2029.

Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust said Solberg helped raise global health and sustainable development on the international agenda during her term as prime minister from 2013-2021, making her well-positioned for the role.

During Solberg’s time in office, CEPI was established to strengthen global preparedness for pandemics and provided support to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to expand access to vaccines in low-income countries. Solberg also promoted international cooperation and equitable access to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, including support for global initiatives to improve access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment.

On May 28, 2026, Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced CAD8 million (US$5.7 million) for Ebola response operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, allocating funding to the World Health Organization, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Canadian Red Cross, and projects implemented by Oxfam-Quebec and World Vision Canada through the Humanitarian Coalition.

Sarai, joined by Minister of Health Marjorie Michel and Member of Parliament Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, said Canada would provide CAD3.5 million (US$2.5 million) to the World Health Organization’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support rapid response by governments and partners, and CAD2 million (US$1.5 million) to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to accelerate surveillance and strengthen biosecurity measures.

CAD1.8 million (US$1.3 million) has been allocated to the Canadian Red Cross to support local Red Cross societies to trace and prevent infection, provide health support services, and strengthen hygiene and sanitation. Through the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund, Canada allocated CAD350,000 (US$254,000) to Oxfam-Quebec and CAD350,000 (US$254,000) to World Vision Canada via a project with the Humanitarian Coalition to provide assistance including clean water and sanitation, essential non-food items, and health services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Canada said it had also supported the deployment of Canadian Red Cross experts to assist operations of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the region, and that it would continue to monitor the situation with partners.

On May 27, 2026, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani directed the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allocate EUR1.15 million (US$1.3 million), signed by Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli, to support the immediate humanitarian response to the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with funding to be provided to Italian civil society organizations operating in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

The funding will support interventions to halt Ebola transmission by strengthening epidemiological surveillance, local health system response capacity, and community confidence in containment measures recommended by the World Health Organization. Resources will focus on priority areas identified by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization for infection prevention and control, including epidemiological surveillance and contact tracing, immediate health relief, and community engagement.

The allocation has added to two ongoing humanitarian initiatives funded by Italian Cooperation totaling EUR5.5 million (US$6.4 million) for five civil society projects in eastern provinces, and that Italian Cooperation would also provide a direct contribution of EUR290,000 (US$336,000) to the World Health Organization’s crisis response efforts.

On May 25, 2026, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation announced EUR1.2 million (US$1.4 million) to the IFRC to support response efforts for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and other at-risk neighboring countries.

EUR500,000 (US$580,000) was allocated through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation to the federation’s regional emergency appeal to help contain the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and neighboring countries. Meanwhile, EUR700,000 (US$812,000) was provided as a contribution to the federation’s regular budget.

On May 18, 2026 during the World Health Assembly, Norway announced NOK30 million (US$3.1 million) for WHO basic emergency care program to strengthen life-saving skills at around 1,000 hospitals in five African countries over three years.

The program was developed by Laerdal Global Health in partnership with WHO and will be implemented with national health authorities in Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Sierra Leone. The program will build basic emergency medicine skills for health personnel, with a focus on district and regional hospitals.

Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre said Norway prioritized cooperation that strengthened health systems and supported life-saving innovation. Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust said the partnership demonstrates how the UN, private actors, and governments can improve health services, noting that Norway prioritizes strengthening WHO through flexible funding and targeted partnerships.

Norway said the NOK30 million (US$3.1 million) support is additional to Norway’s NOK1 billion contribution to WHO investment round for 2025-2028, which aimed to secure more predictable and sustainable financing for the organization.