One million women and girls have been abruptly cut off from vital support in 18 months, a stark consequence of what UN Women terms the "steepest annual decline" in foreign aid ever recorded. The agency's new report reveals a chilling disconnect between soaring demand for humanitarian services and dwindling resources.
The report, based on responses from 855 women-led organisations across 52 crisis-hit countries, paints a dire picture of frontline services buckling under strain. A staggering 84% of these groups have seen a surge in demand since January 2025, with nearly nine out of ten indicating they can no longer meet current needs. Two in five expect to cease operations within the coming year, either temporarily or permanently.
Sofia Calltorp, chief of humanitarian action at UN Women, highlighted the vital role these organisations play. "These women's organisations are on the frontlines of the world's most severe humanitarian crises," she said. "In countries like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti, they operate where international actors cannot, staying long after global attention has waned." Calltorp stressed that every pound withdrawn from these groups impacts survivors of sexual violence, displaced mothers, and girls forced out of education.
The drastic funding cut is a global issue, with the OECD noting a "historic decline in foreign aid" between 2024 and 2025. The US, following former President Donald Trump's re-election in 2025, accounted for three-quarters of this decline, slashing its foreign assistance by more than 50%. Other major donors like the UK, France, and Germany have also reduced their contributions, forcing UN agencies to cut staff, reduce budgets, and scale back operations worldwide.
The consequences are already evident: half of women's organisations have introduced waiting lists or turned away desperate women and girls. The report found that 92% of organisations observed rising poverty levels among those they serve, while 82% reported increased numbers of girls dropping out of school. Conflict-related sexual violence has doubled in 2025, coinciding with the collapse of systems designed to protect survivors.
UN Women is urging sustained investment in women's organisations, recognising them as indispensable first responders and foundations for peace and recovery. British nationals living in conflict-affected regions often face heightened risks, including those faced by vulnerable populations like women and girls, though specific guidance on humanitarian aid access is not typically included in the UK Foreign Office's travel advice.