EU Flag./PHOTO; Courtesy
The European Commission has announced a €557 million humanitarian funding allocation for Africa in 2026 as part of its €1.9 billion global humanitarian aid budget, reaffirming its commitment to life-saving assistance across the continent amid rising needs and shrinking donor support.
Funding will be directed to regions facing protracted and overlapping emergencies, including West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, North-West Nigeria, Central Africa, Southern Africa, the Great Lakes region, and the Greater Horn of Africa.
The funding comes at a time when humanitarian organisations are grappling with escalating crises driven by conflict, climate shocks, food insecurity, and large-scale displacement.
Globally, an estimated 239 million people need humanitarian assistance, according to the Commission, while several major donors have reduced funding, placing additional strain on aid operations.
The Africa allocation will support emergency food assistance, shelter, healthcare, protection for vulnerable populations, and education for children affected by crises.
“These regions continue to experience some of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises,” the Commission said, pointing to the combined impact of armed conflict, climate-related disasters such as droughts and floods, economic instability, and forced displacement.
The European Union said the 2026 allocation reflects its continued commitment to principled humanitarian action, including neutrality, independence, and access to populations in need, at a time when international humanitarian law is under increasing pressure.
Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, described the funding as an initial but critical commitment, warning that public resources alone are no longer sufficient to meet the scale of global humanitarian needs.
“The humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain, and public funding alone will not meet the scale of the crisis,” Lahbib said.
“Europe is taking action, committing an initial €1.9 billion for 2026. As the largest humanitarian donor, we are taking our political responsibility and leading the global response.”
She added that the current moment requires broader collaboration beyond governments and traditional donors.
“This is why I’m in Davos: to mobilise the private sector to think bigger, move faster, and act together. This is a test of solidarity, and Europe is rising to the challenge,” Lahbib said.
In addition to region-specific allocations, more than €415 million of the overall humanitarian budget has been reserved for sudden-onset emergencies worldwide and to maintain a strategic humanitarian supply chain.
This flexible funding is expected to support rapid responses to climate-related disasters and emerging crises, including those affecting African countries.
The Commission is using the World Economic Forum in Davos to engage business leaders and investors on innovative financing approaches that could complement public funding.
Together with the World Economic Forum, Lahbib is co-hosting a session titled New Alliances in Aid and Development, aimed at exploring how private capital, innovation, and new partnerships can strengthen humanitarian responses.
For humanitarian and nonprofit organisations operating in Africa, the announcement offers early clarity on EU funding priorities for 2026, particularly in regions facing chronic food insecurity, displacement, and climate vulnerability.
However, the Commission has acknowledged that the funding gap remains substantial, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts among governments, philanthropies, civil society organisations, and the private sector to sustain life-saving assistance across the continent.
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