Additional Context: This information was collected in a survey of 108 women-led and women’s rights organizations in Ukraine conducted by the Gender in Humanitarian Action group, or GiHA.

In Ukraine, 85% of organizations relied on foreign assistance for more than half of their program portfolios, totaling $27.4 million overall and $14.2 million just from U.S. foreign assistance. Further losses are expected by organizations in 2026. More than one third of organizations reported reductions across multiple services such as gender-based violence prevention and response, protection services, advocacy and political participation, and mental health support, among other humanitarian programming.

Devex Researcher Note: Gender equality work has been notably affected by global donor funding reductions. The U.N. projects losses in the sector at $2.83 billion per year worldwide due to government cuts and the closure of some women's rights initiatives. The U.S. has set forth a sweeping new set of restrictive funding policies, dramatically expanding the Mexico City Policy, which blocks U.S. federal funding to international nongovernmental organizations that provide or inform about abortion. The new rules surpass previous limits to include gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with expansion to a new cadre of recipients — including U.N. agencies. In Ukraine, 62% of organizations have reported declining donor interest in funding gender equality work. According to a United Nations Population Fund, the United States was set to fund projects working on women's economic empowerment in Ukraine before the cuts took place.

Source: GiHA