US Pledges $2 Billion for 2025 Under New UN Model for Humanitarian Assistance
The United States has pledged $2 billion for 2025 to support a new United Nations model aimed at improving the delivery of humanitarian assistance. This initiative targets tens of millions of people in more than a dozen countries and is designed to enhance efficiency and accountability in funding and aid distribution.
The funding will be overseen by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Seventeen memoranda of understanding are set to be signed with priority countries including Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Sudan. Notably, Gaza, Yemen, and Afghanistan are excluded from this package and will be funded through separate avenues.
Gaza will be managed on a distinct track; the US has already approved over $300 million for Gaza following a ceasefire brokered during the Trump administration. Additionally, donor countries will be sought for establishing a pooled Gaza mechanism in a second phase.
US humanitarian contributions to the UN amounted to about $3.38 billion in 2025, roughly 14.8% of the global total. This figure marks a significant decrease from $14.1 billion in 2024 and is far below the peak of $17.2 billion in 2022.
The focus of the funding is on life-saving assistance, with cuts planned for climate-related and non-priority projects. There will be strict requirements regarding which countries and activities receive funding.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher commented that despite the challenging financial climate for the UN, the pledge is a positive step that is expected to help millions of lives across the 17 prioritized countries.
