UNICEF Budget Projections

By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – UNICEF has projected that its 2026 budget will shrink by at least 20% compared to 2024, as stated by a spokesperson for the U.N. children’s agency on Tuesday, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s reduction of global humanitarian aid.

In 2024, UNICEF had a budget of $8.9 billion, while the estimated budget for this year is $8.5 billion. The funding for 2025 is still evolving, according to the UNICEF spokesperson.

“The last few weeks have made clear that humanitarian and development organizations worldwide, including many U.N. organizations, are experiencing a global funding crisis. UNICEF has not been spared,” said the spokesperson.

While UNICEF did not name the U.S. directly, it has long been the agency’s largest donor, contributing more than $800 million in 2024. Notably, all of UNICEF’s executive directors since its establishment in 1946 have been Americans.

“At the moment, we are working off preliminary projections indicating that our financial resources will be, at a minimum, 20% less organization-wide in 2026 compared to 2024,” the spokesperson added.

Since taking office for a second term in January, Trump’s administration has cut billions in foreign assistance to ensure programs align with his ‘America First’ foreign policy.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced last week it will cut 20% of its staff due to a shortfall of $58 million, following funding cuts from its largest donor, the United States.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres mentioned last month that he is seeking ways to improve efficiency and cut costs as the United Nations turns 80 this year amid a cash crisis.

UNICEF has implemented some efficiency measures but emphasized that more cost-cutting steps will be required. The spokesperson stated, “We are examining every aspect of our operation, including staffing, to focus on what truly matters for children: their survival and well-being. But no final decisions have been made.”