Germany strengthens partnership with UNFPA to respond to women and girls in the most neglected humanitarian crises

NEW YORK, United Nations – Germany is reinforcing its commitment to addressing the most urgent humanitarian needs of women and girls around the world by contributing an additional US$2.2 million to UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

This new funding will be directed to the Humanitarian Thematic Fund, a flexible, emergency mechanism designed to support swift, life-saving health and protection interventions for women and young people affected by crises. With this latest contribution, Germany’s total funding to the Humanitarian Thematic Fund now stands at US$11.7 million. 

Addressing critical gaps in humanitarian response

As humanitarian crises escalate across several regions – with nearly 300 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection globally – gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health services remain severely underfunded. Women and girls are left at greater risk of violence, exploitation and abuse, limiting their access to essential reproductive health services, and thwarting their economic prospects. In humanitarian responses, essential sexual, reproductive, and protection services are often deprioritized, placing millions of lives at risk.

The Humanitarian Thematic Fund is uniquely positioned to provide flexible, high-quality, multi-year funding to support UNFPA’s emergency response and preparedness amid acute and protracted crises. It allows UNFPA to act quickly and efficiently, wherever humanitarian needs arise.

Flexible, quality funding from donors and partners is pivotal to addressing overlooked emergencies. As one of UNFPA’s key humanitarian donors, Germany’s unearmarked contributions allow UNFPA to allocate resources where they are most urgently needed, including in crises that often receive little international attention.

“More women and girls than ever are caught in crises they did not create, facing risks of gender-based violence and losing access to essential care,” said Ms. Shoko Arakaki, UNFPA Humanitarian Response Division Director. “Germany’s fully flexible support is more crucial than ever to ensure that women and girls in some of the world’s most neglected crises — often far from the international spotlight — receive the sexual and reproductive health and protection services they urgently need to safeguard their lives.”

In 2023, the Humanitarian Thematic Fund achieved the following results: 

• 960,000 people were reached with sexual and reproductive health services;
• 719,000 people were reached with gender-based violence prevention, risk mitigation and response services;
• And 170 safe spaces for women and girls were supported.

In 2024, UNFPA is appealing for $1.2 billion to reach 48 million people in 58 countries. As of September 2024, the appeal is only 46 per cent funded. The funding gap is set to increase even further as needs intensify.

Germany is among the top five donors to UNFPA’s Humanitarian Thematic Fund, contributing fully flexible resources. In addition, the Government of Germany is also a provider of much-needed regular resources, enabling UNFPA to respond to the evolving needs of women and girls with flexibility and accountability.