Last Updated: April 2026

Authors: Beth Woroniuk, Senior Fellow, Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative

Description

This is a critical moment for financing for gender equality. We are facing a perfect storm of rising backlash, increased attacks on women human rights defenders, growing military spending along with declining investments in and stalled progress on gender equality. There are constant reports of women’s rights organizations shrinking and even closing as their traditional sources of monetary support evaporate. At the same time, champions, activists and policymakers are envisioning new resourcing possibilities and alliances. Many are holding the line and defending funding streams. Others are imagining new strategies, mechanisms and options.

For the rest of 2026 there are multiple international moments when gender equality resourcing will be discussed. This document is intended to leverage these moments and:

• Spur thinking and generate momentum around possible financing commitments at global moments and conferences throughout 2026, such as the

  • 5th Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy (June 2-3, Madrid),

  • 81st Session of the UN General Assembly (September 8-22, New York) and the

  • Copenhagen Summit (November TBD, Copenhagen)

• Provide a menu of options that states can consider, build on, adapt and adopt.

• Aid discussion and can also be used by other funders, philanthropic entities, development banks, etc.

This note is a living document that will be updated over the next few months.

If you have suggestions or contributions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Beth Woroniuk, Senior Fellow at the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative (beth@ffpcollaborative.org).