Impact of U.S. Funding Suspension on Women’s Rights Organisations in Ukraine: Rapid Assessment. 2025

This rapid assessment by UN Women Ukraine examines the immediate consequences of the suspension of U.S. financial assistance for Ukrainian women’s rights organizations (WROs) in early 2025. Based on a survey of 88 organizations and 15 in-depth interviews, the report provides a snapshot of how the sudden withdrawal of a key donor has affected the operational capacity, staffing, service provision, and long-term sustainability of WROs across the country.

Findings reveal that nearly 30% of surveyed organizations risk closing by mid-2025, while many others have already had to scale back services, lay off staff, or pause ongoing programmes. The impact is especially acute for organizations working in frontline, de-occupied, or rural areas, and those serving marginalised groups such as displaced women, survivors of violence, or women with disabilities. The funding gap undermines years of progress in advancing gender equality and women’s leadership in humanitarian response, recovery, and peacebuilding.

The assessment underscores the importance of donor continuity, the need for multi-year and core funding, and the urgency of engaging other international donors to ensure that the women’s movement in Ukraine can continue playing its vital role in crisis response and inclusive recovery. It calls for strategic investment in WROs as essential partners for building resilience, accountability, and democratic governance in wartime and beyond.

Year: 2025