Feminist Funding in a Post-ODA Era: Reimagining Aid’s Architecture

By Beth Woroniuk, Senior Fellow, Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative

Originally published by the Alliance for Feminist Movements on April 28, 2026.

From left to right: Beth Woroniuk (Senior Fellow, FFP Collaborative; Resourcing Expert, Prospera), Alison McLachlan (Assistant Director, DFAT), Benjamin Overton (Senior Project Manager, SEEK Development), Fadekemi (Kemi) Akinfaderin (Chief Global Advocacy Officer, Fòs Feminista). Learn more about the speakers here.

2025 saw a massive drop in Official Development Assistance (ODA) of almost a quarter and the OECD projects a further drop of 6.9% in 2026. This will mark the third consecutive year of decline, bringing ODA to its lowest level since 2014.

Yet more challenges plague the ODA system than just declining investments. The whole system faces critiques from multiple sides. Some say it is an outdated colonial legacy that serves few in the Global Majority World. Many in Global Minority countries say funds could be better spent at home.

This summary document explores the following themes:

  • What would a system that is more democratic, more equal, and more effective look like (with Global Majority governments setting the agenda)?

  • How can those affected by core challenges drive the implementation of solutions?

  • How do we engage multiple instruments beyond ODA, including trade, investment, private finance, to achieve a more coherent system?

  • How can the multilateral system be rebuilt for our current era?

  • How can new forms of financing be mobilized?

The Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative, Prospera and the Alliance for Feminist Movements will be exploring these issues in the months ahead. This panel was just one step in ensuring that voices that value gender justice are not invisible in these key discussions.

"We’ve faced a major shock to development assistance. That’s led us to realize that ODA is an important piece of the puzzle for financing feminist movements and overall development work. However, it’s just one piece in the puzzle. It’s just one tool, among many other tools we can use."

Benjamin Overton, Senior Project Manager, SEEK Development

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Feminist Foreign Policies Ride the Global Progressive Movement