Programmes will not be affected by US withdrawal — UNFPA

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has clarified that the decision by the US to withdraw from 66 international organisations will not affect their funding.
UNFPA is the United Nations (UN) sexual and reproductive health agency.

Josephine Zhane Omunyidde, the programme specialist (communication and resource mobilisation) at UNFPA Uganda, said: “UNFPA remains fully committed to the ongoing maternal health and youth empowerment programmes across the country.”
In a statement released on Monday, Omunyidde noted that the US had not communicated to them before directed the withdrawal.

“UNFPA notes the White House’s Presidential Memorandum of January 7 2026 directing the ‘withdrawal’ of the United States from 66 international organisations or entities, including UNFPA. We have not been contacted by the US about this new presidential memorandum, nor been provided with information beyond what is publicly available,” UNFPA noted.
UNFPA confirmed the US was instrumental in UNFPA’s establishment more than 50 years ago.

“Together we have transformed the lives of countless girls and women by providing safe childbirth care, contraceptive supplies, lifesaving medicines and protection from gender-based violence. We have trained doctors, nurses and midwives who serve their countries for generations. We have engaged with faith-based groups and women’s groups to end harmful practices. We have collected data on population and health that empowers governments to effectively and efficiently deliver health care,” the statement noted.
UNFPA said it was committed to the mandate given to them by UN member states and to the strategic plan recently adopted by consensus by their executive board.
“We remain determined to deliver results that matter in the 150 countries where we operate,” UNFPA added.

FUNDING WITHDRAWN
UNFPA’s response came after The White House last week on Wednesday announced that President Trump had withdrawn funding to 66 international organisations.
The US president signed a memorandum, saying the decision was taken because those entities “no longer serve American interests” and promote “ineffective or hostile agendas”.

Among the 66 agencies, nearly half of them (31) are bodies of the UN, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty that underpins all international efforts to combat global warming. The other 35 are non-UN agencies.
Among the affected non-UN agencies is Education Cannot Wait (ECW), which funds the education sector in Uganda, especially supporting the girlchild education.
Since 2023, ECW has funded the education sector to the tune of $76m (about sh273b).