UN Agency to Reduce Staff Following US Funding Cut

  • OCHA plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 500 positions.
  • OCHA reports a rise in humanitarian needs globally.
  • The US contribution previously accounted for 20% of OCHA’s budget.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is set to decrease its staff by 20% due to a $58 million shortfall. This announcement was made by UN aid chief Tom Fletcher to the staff, after the United States, OCHA’s largest donor, reduced its funding.

Fletcher stated that OCHA will be scaling back its operations and presence in several countries, including Pakistan, Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Gaziantep (Turkey), and Zimbabwe.

He added that OCHA would concentrate more of its resources in the countries where it continues to operate, albeit in fewer locations.

“Currently, OCHA has around 2,600 staff members across more than 60 countries. Due to the funding shortfall, we are aiming to reorganize into an entity with approximately 2,100 staff in fewer locations,” Fletcher mentioned in a note to staff on Thursday.

“As we are aware, these measures are a result of funding cuts announced by Member States, and not due to a decrease in needs,” Fletcher explained. “Humanitarian needs are increasing and are possibly at an all-time high, driven by conflicts, climate crises, disease, and a lack of adherence to international humanitarian law.”

OCHA is responsible for mobilizing aid, disseminating information, providing support to aid efforts, and advocating for those in need during crises. The organization relies significantly on voluntary contributions.

Fletcher noted that the US has historically been the largest humanitarian donor and the biggest contributor to OCHA’s program budget. He also pointed out that the annual contribution of $63 million from the US would have represented 20% of OCHA’s extrabudgetary resources in 2025.

Since assuming office for his second term in January, US President Donald Trump’s administration has cut billions of dollars in foreign aid as part of a review aimed at aligning programs with his “America First” foreign policy.

Amid a cash crisis as the UN approaches its 80th anniversary this year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a new initiative last month focused on improving efficiency and reducing costs.