Policy Updates

On March 9, 2026, EUR246 million (US$286 million) in grants and credit initiatives across Africa, Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and Latin America were approved during Italy's first Joint Committee on Development Cooperation meeting of 2026, chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli.

In Africa, in line with the Mattei Plan, the Committee approved environmental development programs in Ethiopia, agricultural development initiatives in Burkina Faso, and interventions to support food security in Kenya. The Committee also approved a project to strengthen the healthcare system in Chad, which will be implemented by the Italian National Institute of Health. An information note was approved regarding the resumption of operations of the AICS Project Office in Port Sudan, aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of Italian cooperation in the country.

The Committee approved up to EUR100 million (US$116 million) through Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to strengthen food security in Ukraine, and up to EUR28 million (US$33 million) to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the Western Balkans. Regarding Latin America, the Committee cited a program for inclusive and sustainable digital transition and infrastructure projects for the Padre Machado Dispensary Clinic in Caracas, Venezuela.

Among the development initiatives supported by the Regional Fund, established in 2025, the Committee approved a renewable energy and blue economy program in Kenya co-financed by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, a project to support entrepreneurship in Ethiopia co-financed by the Marche Region, and a sustainable tourism initiative in Angola co-financed by the Umbria Region.

Finally, the Committee approved voluntary contributions to international organizations, including IDLO, OECD Caserta, CIHEAM Bari, UNDESA, and UNICRI.

On Decembr 2, 2025, donors pledged US$1.2 billion at the annual UNHCR Pledging Conference in Geneva for 2026 operations, slightly above the 2025 pledge and covering nearly 18% of UNHCR's projected funding needs.

UNHCR's National Partners committed an additional US$350 million from private sector fundraising, bringing total pledges to US$1.5 billion. Several governments confirmed multi-year contributions extending into 2027 and beyond to strengthen UNHCR's long-term planning.

UNHCR Comissioner Filippo Grandi stated that early and flexible funding provided a lifeline to respond quickly to new emergencies and deliver solutions in neglected crises. Top government contributors included Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway, with substantially increased contributions from Ireland, Luxembourg, and Iceland. The European Union confirmed significant funding already committed for 2026, while Austria and Spain joined the group of governments pledging support to UNHCR.

Unearmarked funding pledged dropped to 17% of total pledges, nearly half of 2023 levels, while earmarked funding for specific countries and activities increased. Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland pledged the largest amounts of unearmarked funding.

A year-long campaign led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured EUR15.5 billion (US$18.0 billion) to mobilize investments in renewable energy across Africa, along with additional commitments in clean energy generation and household electricity access, announced on November 21, 2025.

The EU led the pledging effort with more than EUR15.1 billion (US$17.5 billion), including contributions from multiple EU member states including Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, and Ireland, as well as significant bilateral contributions by European financial institutions and development finance institutions, and estimated mobilized private investment. Alongside the campaign, the African Development Bank has pledged to allocate at least 20% of their 17th replenishment to renewable energy.

The campaign, organized in collaboration with Global Citizen and with policy support from the IEA, aimed to drive public and private investment in supporting Africa's clean energy transition, expand electricity access, and promote sustainable economic growth and decarbonized industrialization. The effort represented a step toward accelerating the global transition from fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy.

Von der Leyen stated that the investment would turbocharge Africa's clean-energy transition, providing millions more people with electricity access and creating opportunities for thriving markets, new jobs, and reliable clean energy.

On November 21, 2025The Global Fund held its Eighth Replenishment Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, co-hosted by the governments of South Africa and the UK on the margins of the G20 Leaders' Summit, securing US$11.3 billion in pledges to sustain the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Partners from more than 30 countries pledged support to save lives and strengthen systems for health, marking the first replenishment held on African soil. The summit demonstrated global solidarity despite fiscal tightening, conflict, and global uncertainty, though total pledges fell short of the ambitious target set in the Investment Case and several donors had yet to confirm their pledges.

The US, the Global Fund's largest donor, committed US$4.6 billion. The UK pledged GBP850 million (US$1.1 billion), while Germany confirmed EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) and Canada pledged CAD1.02 billion (US$723 million). France noted that its support remained unchanged. Spain increased its pledge to EUR145 million (US$167 million), Italy pledged EUR150 million (US$173 million), the Netherlands contributed EUR146 million (US$169 million), and additional pledges came from many other donors. South Africa committed US$37 million, including US$10 million from the private sector. African countries made solidarity commitments totaling US$52 million. G20 member states reached US$9 billion in commitments.

Within the private sector, the Gates Foundation pledged US$912 million, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation pledged US$135 million, and (RED) committed US$75 million. Overall, private sector support reached US$1.3 billion.

On September 15, 2025, a UN Women report revealed that progress on women's rights is stagnating and regressing due to conflict, aid cuts, and a backlash against gender equality, and called on governments at the UN General Assembly in New York to commit to renewed action, highlighting that the US$420 billion needed annually to advance gender equality is a fraction of the US$2.7 trillion spent on the military.

The report, a gender snapshot monitoring progress on the SDGs, found that 676 million women and girls lived near deadly conflict in 2024, the highest number since the 1990s. Women are also more likely to be affected by rising food insecurity. The report projects that climate change could push an additional 158.3 million women and girls into extreme poverty by 2050.

Director of UN Women’s policy division, Sarah Hendriks, contrasted the US$2.7 trillion in annual military spending with the estimated US$420 billion needed to advance gender equality. The report also noted a digital gender divide, which if addressed, could lift 30 million women and girls out of poverty by 2050 and generate a US$1.5 trillion increase in global GDP by 2030. UN Women is calling for renewed commitments at the UN General Assembly, 30 years after the Beijing Declaration.

On August 14, 2025, the resumed 5^th session of the INC-5.2 in Geneva, Switzerland, concluded without reaching a consensus on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, though UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that all member states agreed to continue negotiations.

Negotiations to establish a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution concluded without an agreement. UN officials, including UNEP Executive Director Andersen and UN Secretary-General Guterres, acknowledged the outcome but emphasized that all countries remained committed to the process. The talks, which included delegates from 183 nations and representatives from over 400 CSOs faced significant differences on key issues.

The US delegation supported an agreement that allows for tailored, country-specific solutions to reduce plastic pollution while opposing prescriptive, top-down regulations. INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso and INC Executive Secretary Jyoti Mathur-Filipp reaffirmed their dedication to moving forward and achieving a future agreement.

On July 17, 2025, Italy delivered 800 tons of flour to Gaza under the Food for Gaza initiative in partnership with the WFP, this brings the total of allocated assistance from Italy to Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to EUR110 million (US$129 million) to address the humanitarian crisis and support development.

This shipment, routed via Jordan, follows Italy’s earlier donation of 15 trucks to support humanitarian distribution in the region. The Italy-funded project enables WFP to supply essential foodstuffs, such as sugar and flour, benefiting over one million civilians, particularly by supporting local bread production.

The total includes over 110 tons of direct assistance and EUR30 million (US$35 million) for field operations with international partners. This ongoing commitment highlights Italy’s continued support for vulnerable populations in Gaza.

From June 9-13, 2025, the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference was hosted in Nice, France, ending with over 170 countries adopting a joint declaration committing to urgent measures for ocean conservation and sustainable use.

The event featured 55 heads of state and government as well as upwards of 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, combining this declaration with voluntary pledges, was said to mark renewed global political will for marine protection.

Key commitments included:

• A European Commission pledge of EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for ocean conservation;
• A pledge by French Polynesia to create the world’s largest marine protected area;
• A pledge by New Zealand of US$52 million for Pacific Ocean governance;
• A pledge by Italy of EUR6.5 million (US$7 million) to strengthen Coast Guard surveillance in marine protected areas and on oil platforms;
• A pledge by Spain to establish five new marine protected areas, aiming to safeguard 25% of its marine territory;
• A pledge by Germany of EUR100 million (US$115 million) for Baltic and North Sea munitions clearance;
• The launch of a Coral Bond for reef conservation by Indonesia, WB, and partners.

37 countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, while Canada pledged US$9 million to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Alliance. UN agencies and global partners also launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.

Nineteen more states ratified the Marine Biodiversity Treaty, bringing total signatures to 136 and ratifications to 50 states, plus the EU. Ten more ratifications are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. The 4^th UN Ocean Conference, in 2028, will be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea.

On June 12, 2025, Italy pledged EUR14 million (US$15 million) through UNDP to enhance Moldova’s social protection systems and energy resilience.

The funds will support energy compensation for vulnerable households, modernize social service delivery infrastructure, and advance energy efficiency and digital transformation. This assistance builds on Italy’s ongoing support for Moldova’s European integration and aligns with national priorities for inclusive development.

On May 28, 2025, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed concluded a successful working visit to Italy, meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV, to discuss enhancing collaboration in education, economic reforms, and energy development, strengthening bilateral ties and securing significant development support.

The visit resulted in the signing of agreements in critical areas such as green development, urban infrastructure, and macroeconomic reform, reflecting Italy's continued support for Ethiopia's growth.

Additionally, the Vatican reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ethiopia's educational development, highlighting the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral engagements.

These developments underscore the deepening partnership between Ethiopia and Italy, with a shared focus on sustainable development and regional stability.