On May 13, the UN Women Humanitarian Action released a new global survey with alarming results. In 2025, it was reported that 90 per cent of the women-led organizations have been impacted by funding cuts, and 47 per cent of these organizations may be forced to close within 6 months. The survey assessed 411 humanitarian and crisis organizations from 44 countries.
Sofia Calltorp, Chief of UN Women, called the situation critical, as many of these organizations were already underfunded before the cuts. Over half of these organizations report having halted services for gender-based violence survivors, and 72 per cent had to reduce their staff.
Recent cuts made by U.S. President Donald Trump through the “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid” executive order and the dissolution of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have resulted in obtaining just seven per cent of the $44.79 billion required for global humanitarian aid. The UK is also discussing further funding reductions, which may further worsen the crisis.
Calltorp emphasized how sustaining these organizations is not just a moral obligation, but also an intellectual one.
“Supporting and resourcing them is not only a matter of equality and rights, but it is also a strategic imperative.”
