UN Women has said that, following cuts to foreign aid to Afghanistan, women-led organizations and organizations defending women’s rights in the country have faced severe funding shortfalls, with 82 percent at risk of closure.
In a newly released report, the organization said a survey of 74 women’s organizations conducted in April 2026 found that they had faced funding cuts since 2025.
The report, titled “The Impact of Aid Cuts on Women-Led Organizations and Women’s Rights Organizations,” shows that reductions in foreign aid have restricted these organizations’ activities and increased the risk that some will close.
According to the report, 61 organizations—82 percent of those surveyed—said they were at risk of closure.
In the survey, organization representatives described how funding cuts had affected their work since January 2025.
The report found that 72 percent of the organizations surveyed experienced budget cuts in 2025. In addition, 49 organizations—66 percent of respondents—said their financial situation in 2026 had become “worse” or “critical” compared with the previous year.
Of the 74 organizations surveyed, UN Women found that one had closed permanently. Another 40 organizations—54 percent—said they could suspend their activities or close altogether in the next 12 months.
UN Women said budget cuts had also affected women’s organizations’ and women’s rights organizations’ “ability and capacity to provide services” in Afghanistan.
The report said 77 percent of respondents reported that their capacity to meet the needs of women and girls was “below the level required,” while 83 percent said the need for assistance among women and girls had “increased” compared with previous years.
According to the report, 62 percent of the organizations surveyed are now reaching fewer women and girls than they did before January 2025. In addition, 54 percent said that, because of limited capacity, they had been forced to put women and girls on “waiting lists” or turn them away.
This situation has emerged since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, when he cut all US foreign aid, particularly humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
