Policy Updates

The UK’s Africa Minister Kirsty McNeill announced on September 1, 2026, more than GBP50 million (US$68.1 million) in additional funding to contain Ebola in the DRC, bringing the UK’s total contribution to GBP78 million (US$106.2 million).

The package supports disease surveillance, frontline health workers, infection prevention and control, treatment access, community engagement, and safe and dignified burials. The funding is aimed to save lives, support affected communities, and reduce the risk of international spread as the outbreak continued amid conflict, displacement, and severe humanitarian needs.

On August 6, 2026, the US announced nearly US$2 billion in partnerships with faith-based and community organizations to deliver global health and humanitarian assistance across more than 20 countries. The announcement represents the largest allocation of global health foreign assistance to faith-based organizations in over 20 years.

As a landmark commitment under the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS), the Department of State allocated US$1.4 billion to support integrated health services through faith-based and community hospitals and clinics in more than 20 countries. Through the Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) Award to World Vision and a consortium of local faith-based implementers, up to US$850 million was committed over five years to:

• Strengthen over 2,500 faith-based hospitals, clinics, and community hubs to deliver high-quality healthcare across 17 countries;
• Train, pay, and equip more than 30,000 community health workers with supplies to deliver critical health services; and
• Provide an additional US$570 million to faith-based and community hospitals and clinics through memoranda of understanding signed with partner governments under the AFGHS.

The US also announced US$538 million in humanitarian response funding for Samaritan's Purse and a consortium jointly led by World Vision and Compassion International. The funding is expected to reach 7 million people across 16 humanitarian crises, with over US$100 million made immediately available for natural disaster response and preparedness across 23 disaster-prone countries.

On August 3, 2026, the Swedish government announced SEK6.9 million (US$690,000) to the Swecare Foundation to strengthen Ukraine's health care system through training, knowledge exchange, and partnerships between Swedish and Ukrainian actors.

The initiative focuses on building Ukrainian capacity in cancer care, rehabilitation and prosthetic care, infection prevention, countering AMR, and hospital management. Among its key activities, the program will establish a major training program for Ukrainian health care professionals in radiation therapy.

The Swecare Foundation will implement the initiative through its network of Swedish government agencies, regions, health care actors, academia, and life science companies. The program builds on previous Swedish health care initiatives in Ukraine and aims to create long-term partnerships between Swedish and Ukrainian actors, including in the private sector. The initiative also supports Ukraine's reform agenda and path toward EU membership.

On July 29, 2026, the US Departments of State and Health and Human Services announced the release of US$600 million in congressionally appropriated funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, resolving months of delay under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had withheld the funds over concerns about mercury-containing vaccines.

The Trump administration confirmed the release of the funding, which covers FY2025 and FY2026 and was set to expire on September 30, 2026. Kennedy had held up the disbursement for months, arguing that Gavi was using dangerous and outdated vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. The departments stated that Gavi committed to work toward transitioning away from mercury-containing vaccines and expanding access to newer, mercury-free alternatives.

The US has largely phased out thimerosal-containing vaccines domestically, though the preservative remains in use in parts of the world with limited refrigeration capacity. Mainstream vaccine safety experts have affirmed that the vaccines Gavi uses are safe. The departments described the administration's position as "a pro-vaccine, pro-innovation policy."

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins announced on July 28, 2026 that the State Department had agreed to disburse the funding. The US$600 million represents approximately 15% of Gavi's total annual budget. Gavi CEO Dr. Sania Nishtar welcomed the announcement, noting that the US has helped Gavi immunize over 1.2 billion children since 2000.

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.