Foreign Aid Cuts Push Women's Humanitarian Organizations to the Brink of Collapse

In 2025, the world faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. According to recent global data, over 308 million people across 73 countries are now in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. This figure continues to climb due to the intensifying impact of armed conflicts, climate change, deepening food insecurity, and persistent outbreaks of disease. Vulnerable populations, especially women and girls, are bearing the brunt of this compound crisis.

The international community is struggling to keep pace. Humanitarian organizations, already strained by rising demands, are now grappling with a sharp decline in funding. Essential services—those that provide life-saving care and protection—are under threat, and the implications for millions of people, particularly women and girls, are devastating.

Disproportionate Burdens on Women and Girls

Humanitarian emergencies affect everyone, but women and girls experience a unique and often more severe set of challenges. In crisis zones, they face elevated risks of gender-based violence, preventable maternal mortality, sexual exploitation, and acute malnutrition. For women who are pregnant, the lack of access to prenatal and emergency obstetric care can mean the difference between life and death.

Sexual violence becomes increasingly prevalent in conflict settings, and the erosion of health, security, and legal infrastructure leaves survivors with few paths to safety or justice. Without support, the cycle of trauma and vulnerability deepens, undermining the prospects of recovery and stability for entire communities.

UN Women Report: "At a Breaking Point"

In response to growing concerns, UN Women has released a landmark report titled At a Breaking Point: The Impact of Foreign Aid Cuts on Women's Organizations in Humanitarian Crises Worldwide. The findings, derived from a rapid global survey of 411 women-led and women’s rights organizations operating in 44 crisis-affected countries, highlight a grim reality: 90% of these organizations have been impacted by significant reductions in funding.

Sofia Calltorp, Chief of UN Women Humanitarian Action, emphasized the gravity of the situation:

“Women and girls simply cannot afford to lose the lifelines that women’s organizations are providing. Despite their roles as essential providers, advocates, and watchdogs, women’s organizations have been severely underfunded even before the recent wave of reductions.”

These organizations, often the first responders in emergencies, are reaching people where large international bodies cannot. Yet they are being left behind in funding strategies. Their exclusion from decision-making processes and financial planning further erodes their ability to function effectively.

Alarming Consequences for Local Women-Led Organizations

The impact of the funding crisis is already being felt. According to the report:

• 47% of the surveyed organizations fear they will have to shut down within six months unless current funding levels are increased.

• 51% have already suspended critical programmes, including those offering support to survivors of gender-based violence, health services, legal aid, and income-generating activities.

• 72% have been forced to lay off staff, many at substantial levels, significantly reducing their operational capacity.

This stark data reveals how the backbone of community-level humanitarian response is being dismantled, piece by piece.

Unwavering Commitment Despite the Odds

Despite dwindling resources, women’s organizations continue to serve on the frontlines of humanitarian crises. From refugee camps in the Middle East to disaster-affected regions in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, these groups are providing critical services with unmatched dedication. They deliver health care, legal support, cash assistance, safe spaces, and livelihood programs—all while advocating for the rights and dignity of the communities they serve.

Their work is not just humanitarian; it is transformational. Women-led organizations foster resilience, rebuild social fabrics, and advocate for structural change. Yet, their contributions remain chronically undervalued and underfunded.

A Call to Action: Funding Women’s Organizations is a Strategic Imperative

UN Women is urging the global community—governments, donors, international agencies, and civil society—to recognize the indispensable role of women-led organizations in humanitarian action. Ensuring sustained and flexible funding is not just a matter of equity; it is a strategic imperative that enhances the effectiveness, sustainability, and inclusiveness of humanitarian efforts.

As the humanitarian landscape grows more complex, one message stands clear: Without robust investment in women-led organizations, the international community risks undermining its ability to respond effectively to crises. These organizations are not optional partners—they are essential actors, delivering life-saving support where it is needed most.

"Supporting and resourcing them is not only a matter of equality and rights, but it is also a strategic imperative," Calltorp reiterated.

Now more than ever, the world must stand with the women who are holding the frontlines of humanity together.