Aid cuts in 2025 shocked the humanitarian system and forced it into hyper-prioritisation mode. This paper looks at the implications for humanitarian organisations, how they have navigated the system shocks and prioritisation choices, and what this meant for their ability to support people in crises.
-
Introduction
An overview of the research and context of the study undertaken.
-
Chapter 1
The funding story of 2025
A closer look at the funding cuts on humanitarian action.
-
Chapter 2
Organisational triage and the rolling toll of job cuts
Cuts in funding resulted in job losses across all types of humanitarian organisations and programmes had to be chosen based on funding constraints.
-
Chapter 3
A shrinking lens and a shrinking footprint
Humanitarian actors have been forced to drastically shift how they operate, where they are located and what they can do.
-
Chapter 4
Towards managed decline - bracing for sustained and continued cuts
As a result of the shocking 2025 funding cuts, organisations are planning for a sustained and continued decline in future funding.
-
Chapter 5
Flying blind - insight gaps for evidence-based prioritisation
An exploration on the gap in information required to make evidence-based decisions.
-
What now?
A look at the future of learning from the direct and indirect effects of decisions.
-
References
A list of literature sources used in this briefing.