By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and several other African countries are set to benefit from a major humanitarian funding boost after the European Union announced an initial €1.9 billion aid budget for 2026, with €557 million earmarked for Africa.
The funding, announced on Wednesday by the European Commission, places particular focus on Nigeria’s North-West region and other crisis-affected areas across the continent. The €557 million allocation excludes a separate €14.6 million set aside for North Africa. 
The announcement comes against the backdrop of growing global humanitarian needs, with an estimated 239 million people currently requiring assistance amid shrinking support from major international donors.
European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the funding would be presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos as part of efforts to attract additional support. She said the goal was to mobilise private sector financing and innovative solutions to complement public funding and reach vulnerable populations.
According to the Commission, the EU’s humanitarian assistance focuses on delivering life-saving support where it is most needed, including emergency food and shelter, essential healthcare, protection for vulnerable groups, and access to education for children in crisis-affected areas. The Commission stressed that, despite mounting pressure on humanitarian law and reduced donor funding globally, the EU remains committed to providing principled aid to people in need, wherever they are.
A breakdown of the €1.9 billion allocation shows that €557 million has been designated for West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, North-West Nigeria, Central and Southern Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Greater Horn of Africa. Another €448 million will go to the Middle East, with particular attention to Gaza following last year’s fragile ceasefire, as well as Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.
Humanitarian needs linked to the war in Ukraine will receive €145 million, alongside an additional €8 million for projects in Moldova. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran are set to receive €126 million, while €95 million has been allocated to Central and South America and the Caribbean, where ongoing conflicts, violence, political instability and environmental pressures continue to drive humanitarian crises.
South-East Asia and the Pacific will receive €73 million, largely in response to the crisis in Myanmar and its spillover effects in Bangladesh, while €14.6 million has been assigned to North Africa due to persistent political, economic and social challenges in the region.
In addition, more than €415 million has been reserved to respond to sudden emergencies worldwide and to maintain a strategic humanitarian supply chain.
As part of efforts to bridge the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available resources, Commissioner Lahbib is in Davos this week engaging with business leaders and investors on how the private sector can contribute innovation, scale and new financing models to humanitarian responses. She is also set to co-host an event with the World Economic Forum titled ‘New Alliances in Aid and Development’ on 22 January.
