Additional Context: This information was collected through a survey alongside 108 women’s 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. Additional 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.

Among organizations experiencing layoffs, the average staff reduction was seven people. 88% of organizations reported moderate or large increases in the workload for remaining staffers. 81% of organizations reported difficulties in hiring new personnel, with constraints largely felt in the availability of specialized roles and expertise in gender-based violence, monitoring and evaluation, and safeguarding roles, raising concerns about program quality for 69% of organizations. Well-being and morale have also been significantly affected according to the survey.

Devex Researcher Note: While it is not possible to establish exactly how many staff layoffs can be attributed directly to U.S. funding in this survey, an earlier version conducted by U.N. Women in 2025 mentions that 66% of 99 surveyed women's rights organizations in Ukraine reported immediate staff reductions in the aftermath of U.S. cuts, with half anticipating further layoffs in the coming months.

Source: GiHA