Humanitarian funding cuts threaten women’s rights: What’s at stake and how to help

UN Women’s latest research shows that half of women’s rights and women-led organizations in countries affected by humanitarian crisis may shut down within six months due to global funding cuts, with catastrophic impact on women and families in most needed.

UN Women Cameroon supports economic and social rehabilitation for vulnerable women and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in seven refugee camps in three regions of the country. Cameroon, Gado-Badzere refugee camp, 2016. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

A new global report from UN Women reveals a dire warning: half of women-led and women’s rights organizations in humanitarian crisis zones may shut down within six months due to funding cuts. This would have devastating consequences for millions of women and families who depend on their services. 

In a global survey conducted by UN Women, 90 per cent of 411 women’s organizations across 44 crisis-affected countries reported being impacted by reductions in foreign aid. More than 60 per cent have already reduced their services, disrupting critical, life-saving support – from emergency health care and gender-based violence services to economic assistance and shelter.

What’s happening to women’s rights funding in humanitarian crises?

The global humanitarian system is under intense pressure. In 2024, USD 44.79 billion was needed to respond to escalating conflicts and disasters – but only 7 per cent of this target has been met. At the same time, major donor governments have announced deep cuts to foreign aid.

While the humanitarian system as a whole is being forced to scale back, local and national women-led organizations are among the hardest hit, despite playing frontline roles in delivering aid and reaching marginalized communities.

Did you know?

Globally, women’s rights organizations received less than 1 per cent (USD 142 million) of humanitarian aid funding between 2021 and 2022. 

Many of these organizations rely heavily on government donors that are now scaling back.  From Myanmar to Palestine, Sudan, and Afghanistan, they deliver vital services and are essential in providing humanitarian services.

UN Women team checks a shipment of humanitarian aid to Palestinian women and children. UN Women Egypt in partnership with the Egyptian Red Crescent delivered desperately needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian women and children in Gaza. Egypt, Ismailia Governorate, January 2024. Photo: UN Women/Menna Negeda

Why do humanitarian aid cuts hit women and girls hardest?

When women-led and women’s rights organizations are forced to scale back or shut down, women and girls in crisis lose access to essential, life-saving support.

• 62 per cent of surveyed organizations have already reduced services.
• Over 500 women and girls die each day in crisis settings from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications.
• The majority of service cuts have impacted services to address and stop gender-based violence (67 per cent), followed by health care and livelihoods.

Without women’s rights organizations, survivors of gender-based violence have fewer safe places to turn, and women's health and economic security are increasingly at risk.

Recent country-level data shows just how devastating these funding disruptions are:

• In Afghanistan, 50 per cent organizations reported that programmes for women are directly affected by the funding cuts.
• In Ukraine, 72 per cent of women-led and women’s rights organizations reported severe disruptions to humanitarian and development activities. Critically, over 60 per cent have been forced to suspend or reduce gender-based violence services — leaving survivors without access to safe shelters, legal aid or trauma support. One in three organizations say they may shut down completely within six months if replacement funding is not secured.

Did you know?

Globally, the impacts from the funding cuts are especially severe for the most marginalized: migrants, refugees, LGBTIQ+ individuals, older women, and women with disabilities, whose specific needs may be invisible and they often rely on tailored, rights-based support systems that only local feminist organizations can deliver.

Evidence shows gender-responsive humanitarian programming yields a return of USD 8 for every dollar invested. Yet in 2024, only 1.3 per cent of humanitarian funding addressed gender-based violence.

Why women’s rights organizations are essential in humanitarian response

Women’s organizations are not just service providers — they are trusted leaders and advocates who:

• Reach underserved communities with culturally informed support.
• Provide safe spaces, psychosocial services, and legal assistance for survivors of gender-based violence.
• Ensure that women’s voices are included in humanitarian planning and policy decisions.
• Build long-term resilience by empowering women economically and socially.

When they’re underfunded or forced to close, the entire humanitarian response becomes less effective, less inclusive, and less accountable to those most in need.

In 2020, UN Women in partnership with Oxfam, launched "Means to Lead: Empowering Rohingya Refugee and Host Community Women through Leadership, Learning, and Livelihood" in collaboration with three implementing partners (Mukti Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha, Rohingya Women Welfare Society). The project aims to empower Rohingya refugee by equipping them with skills, reducing violence against women, and creating self-reliant leadership. Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar. 2023. Photo: Oxfam/Istiak Karim