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Policy Updates
The Donor Tracker team regularly brings you the most important policy and funding news across issue areas in the form of Policy Updates.
Von der Leyen unveils new college of Commissioners
September 17, 2024 | EUI, Education, Gender Equality, Climate, Global Health R&D, Global Health | Share this update
On September 17, 2024, after months of negotiations, EC President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her proposed team of Commissioners.
Pending a confirmation hearing by the European Parliament in November, where experts believe some Commissioner-designates are likely to be rejected, and a plenary vote, the new college will be able to begin the new mandate at the earliest in December 2024.
Six Commissioners will have an external component to their portfolio, five will have an ecological focus, and five relate to security in their title.
Among the most relevant for external relations are:
- Jozef Síkela (Czechia, independent): Commissioner for International Partnerships. Síkela is a former investment banker and industry and trade minister. Síkela has been mandated with continuing to focus on Global Gateway. His mission letter tasks him with taking Global Gateway from start-up to scale-up and working in synergy with other programs, namely to secure supply of raw materials and clean tech. Gender equality is singled out as a priority, but no mention of other human development sectors is made.
- Kaja Kallas (Estonia, liberal): High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy. Former Estonian Prime Minister Kallas has been one of the EU's most vocal critics of Russia and a key proponent of both military assistance to Ukraine and a stronger EU defense capability. Her duties include giving a new impetus to the EU’s partnership with Africa and shaping a new foreign economic policy, including via "mutually beneficial partnerships". Kallas has also been tasked to ensure a better link between the EU’s internal and external policies, from climate and energy to digital and food security.
- Hadja Lahbib (Belgium, liberal): Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Equality. Labhib is the outgoing Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister and was previously a journalist. The role replaces the current portfolio of humanitarian assistance, covering internal crises as well, and includes a second hat for equality. Her health deliverables include developing a new strategy to support medical countermeasures against health threats. Lahbib will work to develop a Roadmap for Women’s Rights and a new Gender Equality Strategy.
The agreement of the next EU long-term budget will be front and center of the next mandate. Von der Leyen’s priorities are modernization, prioritization, and simplification.
The appointment for the budget is:
- Piotr Serafin (Poland, center-right): Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud, and Administration. Serafin, currently the Polish ambassador to the EU and former chief of staff of Donald Tusk when he was European Council president, also served in the cabinet of former Polish EU Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski. Serafin will report directly to President von der Leyen. His mission letter calls for revamped external action financing that is more targeted and aligned with Europe’s strategic interests.
Among the most relevant for climate, food, and agriculture are:
- Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Spain, center-left): Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. As the Spanish Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, her position combines the roles of competition chief, net-zero architect, and economic transformer. Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s report on competitiveness is expected to serve as her blueprint as she leads the development of a Clean Industrial Deal and ensures the European Green Deal stays on track.
- Wopke Hoekstra (the Netherlands, center-right): Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. Hoekstra has been confirmed in the role with a revamped portfolio that now includes climate and taxation. He will focus on a clean industrial strategy, decarbonization and emissions reduction, while ensuring a fair transition. The international dimension will center on clean trade and investment partnerships.
- Christophe Hansen (Luxembourg, center-right): Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. As an MEP, Hansen worked on environmental and trade issues. His new role will involve strengthening the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of agriculture, and he will prepare a 100-day Vision for Agriculture and Food.
The appointments for health and preparedness are:
- Roxana Mînzatu (Romania, center-left): Executive Vice-President for People, Skills, and Preparedness. Minzatu is a cohesion funds expert who served as an MEP and Minister for European Funds. Her mission statement includes advancing a Union of Equality, a Union of Skills, and fostering a new culture of preparedness to help people adapt to changes and risks, particularly in the face of health and security crises.
- Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary, far right): Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare. Várhelyi, who is currently responsible for the Neighborhood and Enlargement portfolio, was handed the health and animal welfare role. He is a controversial figure due to breaking ranks with the EC to follow Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. His mission statement includes completing the European Health Union, but food safety has been stripped of his portfolio. He will head DG SANTE and HERA. On health preparedness, he will report to the Executive Vice-President for People, Skills, and Preparedness.
In her mission statement, von der Leyen states that R&I, science, and technology must be put at the heart of the EU’s economy, which entails more investments and cooperation.
The appointment for R&I and R&D is:
- Ekaterina Zaharieva (Bulgaria, center-right): Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation. Zaharieva is a lawyer and previously served as Bulgaria's foreign affairs minister after serving several other ministerial posts. Her deliverables include reinforcing international research and innovation cooperation and seeking synergies through Global Gateway. Zaharieva's revamped portfolio does not include education, which will be the responsibility of the Executive Vice President for people, skills, and preparedness, but extends to start-ups, a first for any commissioner.
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Canada backs global financing reform with US$12 million at Seville summit
June 30, 2025 | Canada, Gender Equality | Share this update
On June 30, 2025, Canadian Secretary of State Randeep Sarai announced Canada’s support for new blended finance initiatives totaling US$17 million at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.
The pledge included:
- CAD10 million (US$7 million) for a blended finance accelerator to support gender-responsive investment in emerging markets;
- CAD5 million (US$4 million) to help developing countries improve domestic resource mobilization in the digital economy; and
- CAD2 million (US$1 million) to support SDG-aligned national financing strategies with the UNDP.
Canada also endorsed the Sevilla Platform for Action on private capital mobilization.
Canada announces US$9 million to support youth training in Ghana
June 29, 2025 | Canada, Education | Share this update
On June 29, 2025, Canadian Secretary of State Randeep Sarai concluded her visit to Ghana, announcing CAD13 million (US$9 million) in new funding to expand the EMPLOY project, aimed at improving vocational and technical skills training for Ghanaian youth, particularly women.
The initiative supports economic empowerment through education in trades such as solar panel installation and machinery operation. The visit also highlighted Canada’s broader partnerships in climate-smart agriculture, gender equality, and green entrepreneurship.
Sweden launches US$84 million gender equality, women’s empowerment strategy
June 27, 2025 | Sweden, Gender Equality | Share this update
On June 27, 2025, the Swedish government adopted a new development cooperation strategy for gender equality and the freedom and empowerment of women and girls, with a total budget of SEK800 million (US$84 million) covering the period 2025–2028.
The strategy will be implemented by Sida and targets global, regional, and national levels, with a strong focus on local ownership and rights-based approaches.
The strategy outlines four primary objectives:
- Combat sexual and gender-based violence and challenge harmful norms;
- Promote women’s and girls’ economic empowerment and access to equal rights;
- Strengthen political participation and societal influence of women and girls; and
- Improve access to disaggregated data for gender-sensitive policy and programming.
Aligned with Sweden’s broader ODA priorities and global frameworks like the EU Gender Action Plan, the strategy emphasizes intersectional analysis, transparency, and collaboration with civil society and the private sector. It is designed to respond to growing global pushback against gender equality.
UNICEF highlights South Korea's US$142 million contribution in 2024
June 26, 2025 | South Korea, Climate | Share this update
On June 26, 2025, UNICEF commended South Korea's contribution to the organization of US$142 million in 2024 despite declining global ODA trends, highlighting their commitment to placing children’s rights as a priority funding area at the 19th Annual Policy Consultation in New York.
Particular focus in the consultation was placed on expanding assistance to Africa. Korea pledged to leverage both financial resources and technical expertise to bolster global child welfare. The consultation also reinforced partnerships in health, climate, AI and tech-enabled development (through the GIGA initiative), and private-sector engagement.
The meeting concluded with the launch of a donor-visibility platform to highlight Korea’s contributions to UNICEF’s mission.
Germany pledges US$688 million at Gavi replenishment conference
June 25, 2025 | Germany, Global Health | Share this update
On June 25, 2025, German Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan announced a EUR600 million (US$688 million) contribution to Gavi to support global immunization through 2030, at Gavi's replenishment conference held in Brussels.
Alabali-Radovan emphasized that investing in vaccine access is both a humanitarian and economic priority, underscoring Germany’s long-standing role in strengthening global health systems. The funding will help immunize hundreds of millions of children and build more resilient healthcare infrastructure in low-income countries.
German government faces significant ODA cuts in 2025 draft budget
June 24, 2025 | Germany | Share this update
On June 24, 2025, the German government presented the draft 2025 budget which considers reducing its ODA budget as defense spending increases to meet NATO commitments, with ODA expected to drop to EUR10.3 billion (US$11.8 billion), down from EUR11.5 billion (US$13.1 billion) in 2024 and EUR13.8 billion (US$15.8 billion) in 2022.
Meanwhile, Germany plans to raise defense spending to 2.4% of GDP in 2025, exceeding the NATO target. The shift comes amid concerns about future US support under Trump's administration and aims to strengthen European security.
However, humanitarian organizations have raised concerns that these cuts could further undermine Germany’s longstanding commitments to global development and crisis response.
Norway pledges US$12 million in humanitarian assistance for refugees, displaced persons
June 20, 2025 | Norway | Share this update
On June 20, 2025, Norwegian Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust announced that Norway is providing NOK120million (US$12 million) in humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Sudan, Syria, and the Sahel/Lake Chad region, channeled through various UN organizations.
NOK60million (US$6 million) will support WFP and UNHCR in Sudan and the Sahel, addressing urgent needs for protection, food, water, shelter, and healthcare amid severe displacement and hunger crises. In the Sahel, NOK30million (US$3 million) will go to the UN Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa, with half allocated to Chad, where over a million Sudanese refugees face critical conditions.
In Syria, NOK30million (US$3 million) will be distributed among WHO, UNICEF, and WFP to improve health, water, and food services, supporting both returnees and those still in need after years of conflict. Norway’s support aims to strengthen basic services and stabilize affected regions.
Norway publishes white paper on SDGs, shows significant progress
June 20, 2025 | Norway, Climate | Share this update
On June 20, 2025, the Norwegian government published a white paper that showed that Norway is on track to achieve most UN SDGs by 2030, with strong progress in infrastructure, energy, education, gender equality, and effective institutions.
However, high material consumption remains a significant challenge, as Norway’s consumption levels exceed both global and European averages. The white paper reviewed Norway’s current position, highlighted key challenges, and outlined strategies to reach the SDGs. It also identified nine sub-goals that require substantial progress, largely relating to sustainability, biodiversity and climate protection, and waste reduction.
The Norwegian government’s digitalization strategy for 2024–2030, Digital Norway of the Future, is designed to accelerate green and digital transformation across all sectors, with investment in research, development, and innovation seen as vital to achieving a low-emission society. The white paper stressed the importance of broad engagement, involving citizens and all societal actors in joint efforts towards the SDGs.
France publishes second Strategic Investment Plan for Development
June 17, 2025 | France | Share this update
On June 17, 2025, the French Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs published the second Strategic Investment Plan for Development for 2024–2027, defining priorities relating to French technical assistance actions in the areas of taxation and public financial management, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The plan's budget exceeds EUR60million (US$69 million) and aligns with the Presidential Council for International Partnerships, Interministerial Committees for International Cooperation and Development, a number of European and multilateral initiatives, and the EU Global Gateway program.
The plan's objectives were outlined as the aim to broaden the tax base by strengthening tax citizenship, integrating the informal economy, and innovating in digital and land taxation as well as modernize tax and customs administrations through digitalization, skills development, and combating illicit financial flows.
The plan funds bilateral projects via AFD and Expertise France as well as multilateral actions with IMF, WB, and OECD, with cross-cutting goals focusing on gender equality, green transition, and inclusive governance in vulnerable countries.
Canada commits US$1.4 billion to Ukraine at G7 Summit
June 17, 2025 | Canada | Share this update
On June 17, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a CAD2 billion (US$1.4 billion) assistance package to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction during the closing of the 2025 G7 Summit in Quebec.
The funding was positioned as a signal of Canada’s continued leadership and commitment to Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression. While broader G7 unity appeared strained—with key figures like US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy leaving early—Canada used the platform to reinforce its role as a reliable ally.
Disclaimer
US$ amounts are cited directly from sources; in the absence of an official conversion, they are calculated using the previous week's average of the US Federal Reserve's daily exchange rates.
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