At least one million women and girls have lost access to life saving support after sharp cuts in international aid funding since January 2025, according to a new report released by UN Women.
The agency warned that women’s organisations working in some of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies now face an unprecedented funding crisis. It said the cuts are forcing many groups to reduce services or prepare for closure even as demand continues to rise.
The report comes after the United States sharply reduced foreign assistance following President Donald Trump’s return to office in 2025. Several other major donor countries have also reduced aid budgets, creating severe funding gaps for humanitarian programmes worldwide. According to the United Nations, the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance remains near record levels because of conflicts, displacement and climate related disasters.
“The women’s organisations at risk of being shut down are on the frontlines of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises,” Sofia Calltorp, UN Women’s head of humanitarian action, said.
“Every dollar withdrawn from women’s organisations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive.”
Demand rises as organisations struggle to survive
UN Women said around 120 million women and girls currently require humanitarian assistance and protection. Armed conflicts have reached their highest levels since the Second World War, increasing the need for emergency support across many regions.
The report surveyed 855 women led and women’s rights organisations across 52 crisis affected countries. It found that 84 percent of respondents have experienced higher demand for services since January 2025.
At the same time, nearly nine out of ten organisations said they can no longer meet existing needs. Two in five expect to shut down either temporarily or permanently within the next year because of funding shortages.
Many organisations now rely on unpaid staff to continue operating. Around 65 percent reported that employees continue working without salaries to keep essential services available. Nearly half also reported growing staff burnout.
The agency warned that conflict related sexual violence doubled during 2025 while protection systems weakened. It also found that 86 percent of surveyed organisations reported increasing levels of gender based violence in the communities they serve.
Women and children face growing risks
UN Women said the consequences extend far beyond organisational closures.
“A woman seeking refuge from violence might show up at the door of a shelter that has shut down; a pregnant woman may have to walk for hours to reach a health clinic; or a mother may be denied food for her children.”
The agency also warned that funding cuts threaten long term progress on women’s rights and leadership.
“The dismantling of women’s organisations is not happening in a vacuum but against a global backlash on the rights of women and girls.”
According to the report, one in five organisations has already suspended programmes promoting women’s leadership and gender equality. More than half also reported declining participation by women in community leadership and local decision making.
UN Women urged governments and international donors to restore financial support before more organisations disappear. The agency warned that continued reductions in humanitarian funding will leave millions of women and girls without protection, healthcare, education and other essential services during some of the world’s most severe crises.
