Policy Updates

During an April 3, 2026 visit to Ukraine, Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced CAD51 million (US$37 million) in new funding across six projects targeting humanitarian assistance, democratic governance, veterans' support, and EU accession reforms. The projects are as follows:

• 2026 Humanitarian Assistance (CAD32 million/US$23 million): funding to multiple partners — including the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, HelpAge Canada, the International Medical Corps, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and its Country-Based Pooled Fund (Ukraine Humanitarian Fund), the ICRC, the UNHCR, and the WFP — to address urgent humanitarian needs, including emergency health care, shelter, water, sanitation, and food;
• FAIR-UA: Foundations for Accountable, Inclusive and Resilient Elections (CAD6 million/US$4 million, 2026-2029): support for credible, inclusive post-war elections in Ukraine, including strengthening the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, delivering voter education, countering disinformation, and supporting civil society oversight of electoral processes;
• Ukraine Ministry of Veterans Affairs Institutional Strengthening (CAD5 million/US$4 million, 2026-2029): capacity-building for the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine to coordinate programs and services for veterans and their families;
• Supporting Inclusive Recovery and EU Accession of Ukraine (CAD5 million/US$4 million, 2026-2031): support for national governance reforms aligned with EU accession requirements and inclusive recovery policies;
• Mobile Service Delivery for Conflict-Affected Populations in Eastern Ukraine (additional CAD2 million/US$1 million, 2019-2026): additional funding to an existing project, bringing total Canadian support to CAD19 million (US$14 million), to improve access to basic public services for war-affected populations, including women, older persons, people with disabilities, and internally displaced persons; and
• Supporting Inclusive Grassroots Democracy in Ukraine (additional CAD1 million/US$1 million, 2018-2027): additional funding to an existing project, bringing total Canadian support to CAD13 million (US$9 million), to strengthen grassroots democratic movements and inclusive governance during wartime and into early recovery.

On April 1, 2026, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs announced EUR40 million (US$46 million) in humanitarian and development assistance to Ukraine in 2026, Ireland's largest funding package for the country since Russia's invasion in 2022. The latest funding package brings Ireland's 2026 support to Ukraine to EUR65 million (US$74 million.)

The new funding builds upon EUR25 million (US$28 million) announced in February 2026 to repair critical energy infrastructure. The 2026 total of EUR65 million (US$74 million) represents a significant increase on the EUR35 million (US$40 million) provided by Ireland in 2025.

The EUR40 million (US$46 million) package includes EUR26 million (US$29 million) in humanitarian assistance and EUR14 million (US$16 million) in long-term development and peacebuilding support. Additionally, EUR2 million (US$2 million) has been allocated to Moldova to address challenges related to the war in Ukraine. Funding was delivered through UN agencies and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which will provide emergency shelter, medical care, maternal healthcare, and essential support to people in frontline areas and children.

Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee made the announcement during an official visit to Ukraine, where she met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond noted that Ukraine would be a priority during Ireland's upcoming EU Presidency.

On March 31, 2026, German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan announced a EUR177 million (US$204 million) support package for Jordan, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories.

Alabali Radovan announced the package during a visit to Jordan, citing the impact of the war with Iran on the region, including direct attacks, displacement, rising prices, and closed border crossings. Part of the funding was already earmarked for the region, with the remainder drawn from reallocations within the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's budget. The package is allocated as follows:

• Jordan (EUR50 million/US$58 million): support for Syrian refugees, including teachers' salaries to enable Syrian children to attend school, employment projects in waste and recycling management, and vocational training to support return to Syria and reconstruction;
• Palestinian Territories (EUR30 million/US$35 million): EUR10 million (US$11.5 million) will be used for additional housing beyond the 1,500 temporary dwellings already financed in Gaza, another EUR10 million (US$11.5 million) will be used to to promote employment in the West Bank, and additional funds for vocational training for young people and local food production; and
• Lebanon (EUR75 million/US$86 million): support for approximately one million internally displaced persons, including cash-for-work programs and learning materials for children to participate in distance learning.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development also committed EUR22 million (US$25 million) in additional support for a planned seawater desalination plant on the Red Sea.

On March 27, 2026, Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced CAD200 million (US$144 million) in renewed funding for Grand Challenges Canada to advance global health innovation.

Sarai made the announcement during a visit to KA Imaging, a Grand Challenges Canada-supported company based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The renewed investment will support innovators in developing, testing, and scaling technology to improve health outcomes at low cost in high-poverty communities, while creating jobs and expanding into global markets.

The funding will also advance Grand Challenges Canada's collaboration with the Global Fund to increase the uptake of health innovations globally. Canada stated that the investment aims to deliver measurable impact, including better health outcomes for women, children, and vulnerable communities in high-poverty countries, as well as strengthened global health security.

On March 24, 2026, Norway announced NOK767 million (US$77 million) in additional humanitarian funding for Ukrainians affected by the war, including NOK260 million (US$26 million) in new support for displaced people in and from Ukraine through UNHCR and other UN partners.

The Norwegian government announced an increase of NOK225 million (US$23 million) to UNHCR's efforts in Ukraine and a further NOK35 million (US$4 million) for its refugee response in neighboring Moldova. Additional funding was directed through the WFP, UNICEF, and the UN's humanitarian country-based pooled funds to support humanitarian work in Ukraine and the refugee response in Moldova.

The new funding for the humanitarian response in Ukraine, totaling NOK725 million (US$73 million), will be allocated as follows:

• NOK225 million (US$23 million) to UNHCR;
• NOK175 million (US$18 million) to WFP;
• NOK110 million (US$11 million) to UNICEF;
• NOK80 million (US$8 million) to UNOCHA's country-based pooled funds;
• NOK50 million (US$5 million) to UNFPA;
• NOK50 million (US$5 million) to WHO;
• NOK30 million (US$3 million) to FAO; and
• NOK5 million (US$500,000) to UNOCHA for coordination.

Additional funding for the refugee response in Moldova, totaling NOK42 million (US$4 million), is allocated as follows:

• NOK35 million (US$4 million) to the UNHCR;
• NOK4 million (US$400,000) to UNFPA; and
• NOK3 million (US$300,000) to UNICEF.

The Australian government announced an AUD2.5 million (US$2 million) climate resilience package and signed three memoranda of understanding with the Federated States of Micronesia on maritime security and policing cooperation during the first official bilateral visit by a Federated States of Micronesia head of state in nearly 30 years.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy welcomed Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina to Canberra on March 24, 2026. Australia and the Federated States of Micronesia signed three memoranda of understanding: one to enhance maritime security cooperation, enabling the Federated States of Micronesia to access support under Australia's increased investment in regional maritime security partnerships, and two to implement the Pacific Policing Initiative, the key policing cooperation mechanism in the Pacific.

Australia and the Federated States of Micronesia also announced an AUD2.5 million (US$2 million) climate resilience package drawn from the existing bilateral development budget. The package will support girls and children with disabilities in accessing safe drinking water and basic sanitation in schools, and fund upgrades to emergency evacuation shelters. Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to climate action, including a Pacific Pre- COP in Fiji and a leaders' side visit to Tuvalu.

On March 23, 2025, the Swedish government announced a SEK555 million (US$61 million) humanitarian assistance package for Gaza in 2026, directing funds to UNICEF, WFP, and UNDP to improve children's access to health care, education, nutrition, and shelter.

The package targets children and families still facing a humanitarian crisis more than five months after a ceasefire came into effect. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated that virtually all schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed and that health care for children remained extremely limited. The package aims to provide around 150,000 children with improved health care, enable around 50,000 children to return to education, provide 80,000 children with nutrition initiatives in the form of school meals, and allow around 1,000 families to move into temporary emergency shelters.

The largest share of the package, SEK400 million (US$44 million), went to UNICEF to improve child health care services, including neonatal care, and to support children's return to education through temporary learning centers offering psychosocial support and protection measures. Meanwhile, WFP received SEK100 million (US$11 million) to provide school meals and support local food production. and UNDP received SEK55 million (US$6 million) to enable 1,000 families to move into temporary shelters.

On March 23, 2026, the Swedish government announced a SEK240 million (US$26 million) support package for Ukraine in 2026, channeling SEK150 million (US$17 million) to the Ukrainian Red Cross for humanitarian operations, with remaining funds directed to children's needs through the WFP, UNICEF, OperationAid, and Gen.Ukrainian.

The package prioritizes children's needs, supporting school food provision in frontline areas, reforms for family-based care of children, and children's mental health. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa stated that the package combined urgent humanitarian assistance with strategic contributions to help children in war-affected areas.

The largest share of the package — SEK150 million (US$17 million) — went to the Ukrainian Red Cross, the country's largest humanitarian organization, to conduct humanitarian operations. Additional funding was directed to the WFP, UNICEF, OperationAid, and Gen.Ukrainian. Support to the WFP, OperationAid, and Gen.Ukrainian aimed to ensure school food access for children near the frontline, while funding to UNICEF focused on strengthening Ukraine's reforms for family-based care of children.

On March 21, 2026, The Australian government announced AUD5 million (US$4 million) in additional humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Lebanon, bringing total Australian humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon to over AUD135 million (US$96 million) since October 2023.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and International Development Minister Anne Aly announced funding will focus on the most vulnerable, particularly women and children. Funding will be delivered through two partners:

• AUD3 million (US$2 million) to the WFP for emergency food assistance; and
• AUD2 million (US$1 million) to UNICEF for nutrition assistance, access to water, and health services.

The UK government announced a fundamental reform of its development assistance approach, prioritizing fragile and conflict-affected states, women and girls, global health, and climate action, while reducing its ODA budget to 0.3% of GNI by 2027.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper outlined the UK's new three-year development assistance framework on March 19, 2026, shifting focus from donor to investor and emphasizing partnership over paternalism. By 2028-2029, 70% of all geographic support will be allocated to the most fragile and conflict-affected states, with funding protected for Sudan, Palestine, Ukraine, and Lebanon. Annual ringfenced funding of GBP24 million (US$32 million) will address underlying causes of irregular migration.

At least 90% of FCDO aid programs will integrate gender equality by 2030, with central spending on preventing violence against women and girls protected at 2025-2026 levels. The UK reaffirmed support to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund. GBP6 billion (US$8 billion) will be invested as International Climate Finance, bolstered by GBP6.7 billion (US$8.9 billion) in climate and nature-positive investments. Core funding to Education Cannot Wait will match the previous pledge of GBP80 million (US$106 million).