WPHF Annual Report 2025

A Decade of Investing in Women Building Peace

Ten Years of Supporting Women at the Forefront of Peace

2025 was an unprecedented year marked by continued escalation of conflicts, deepening humanitarian emergencies, rising global instability, and a constrained funding environment. Millions were affected, particularly women, girls, and marginalized communities who continue to bear the disproportionate impacts of crises.

And yet, even in the face of these challenges, one reality remains constant: when systems falter and crisis escalates, women step forward. They are first responders, peacebuilders, activists, and human rights defenders. They keep schools open when institutions collapse. They deliver food and care when supply chains fail. They mediate disputes before violence escalates and rebuild communities in the aftermath of devastation.

The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) continued to demonstrate that sustainable peace is possible when local women’s organizations and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) are well funded, actively engaged, and protected. In 2025 alone, with thanks to our donors and partners, WPHF supported 489 new women’s organizations and 456 WHRDs in protection, peacebuilding and recovery, and humanitarian efforts across 30 countries through 334 grants. Since its establishment in 2016, WPHF has supported over 1,870 organizations through 1,283 grants worldwide, representing a 57% increase since 2024. Nearly half of all organizations supported by WPHF receive United Nations funding for the first time through the Fund, underscoring its unique ability to reach grassroots actors often excluded from traditional financing.

A decade on, the lesson is unmistakable. Supporting women’s leadership is not only the right thing to do— it is one of the most strategic investments the world can make for stability, resilience, and lasting peace.

WPHF Global Impact in 2025

$– million USD mobilized

– Call for Proposals launched

– civil society organizations supported

–% working at the local level

–% receiving UN funding for the first time

– women human rights defenders and their – dependents supported

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“While we have faced funding cuts on WPS-HA interventions, and local women-led and women’s rights organizations continue to have limited access to funding sources, [WPHF] support serves as a cornerstone for local resilience and ensures that we can address the vital needs for women and continue to advance the WPS agenda.”

WPHF civil society partner from Myanmar

“Through community-based protection activities, awareness, and referrals, women and girls – many of whom had never accessed formal support services – better understand their rights, adopt coping mechanisms, and can access survivor-centered support in highly restrictive and underserved contexts.”

WPHF civil society partner from Afghanistan

“WPHF demonstrated a flexible approach to the implementation of the grant, taking into account the changing security context and operational challenges associated with the war situation. It was possible to adapt program activities to real conditions on the ground, adjust approaches to events and, if necessary, clarify the timing of individual activities.”

WPHF civil society partner from Ukraine

Gender equality and the rights of women and girls continue to be key priorities for France. As a first concrete action of our new feminist foreign policy, we are proud to have joined the WPHF community of donors as a new board member in 2025.”

Delphine O Ambassador-at-large and Secretary-General for the Generation Equality Forum (Beijing+25), France

“In the past, women in our communities didn’t know how to get involved in peacebuilding. Some were already resolving minor conflicts, but without any real structure or recognition. Today, women are becoming qualified conflict mediators. They work within their communities to prevent or resolve tensions.”

WPHF civil society partner from the DRC

“The most significant change achieved by the project [has been] the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of displaced women and girls with disabilities who were previously excluded from formal financial systems. Our WPHF-supported project reduced economic vulnerability and demonstrated that women and girls with disabilities can be active contributors to household livelihoods, community resilience, and peacebuilding when given equitable access to services and skills development.”

WPHF civil society partner from Nigeria

“Our WPHF-supported project helped transform local youth community-based organizations into sustainable hubs for gender advocacy. They transitioned from being passive recipients of information to active change agents. They moved beyond understanding women’s rights to leading interventions against gender-based violence.”

WPHF civil society partner from Palestine

“The most significant impact of the project has been the transformation of women from passive community actors into confident, visible, and organized political leaders actively engaging in local decision-making processes… Women who were previously excluded from political spaces are now engaging with local authorities and collectively advocating for women’s priorities in public and political forums.”

WPHF civil society partner from Sudan

“Our WPHF-supported project has brought about a number of significant improvements, including providing survivors with hope and a means of subsistence after adversity. It has also improved our organization’s ability to address and prevent sexual and gender-based violence against women and teenage girls, particularly in areas affected by conflict.”

WPHF civil society partner from Ethiopia

“Our project with WPHF made it possible to increase the safe referral of survivors through confidential spaces and local supervision; strengthen the capacity of women’s organizations to support survivors on medical, psychosocial and legal aspects; and reduce economic vulnerability through training and support for income-generating activities, improving women’s autonomy and ability to protect themselves and make decisions.”

WPHF civil society partner from Haiti

“Institutional funding has enabled our organization to move from logistical and financial instability to a stable and professional work platform. It served as a critical emergency intervention – paying staff salaries – and a strategic structural investment by modernizing our accounting system and developing a three-year resource mobilization plan.”

WPHF civil society partner from South Sudan

“We deserve to be part of the decisions that shape our safety and our future. They didn’t give us just training; they gave us the tools to create our own success stories. When women with disabilities participate, communities become stronger and more peaceful.”

WPHF civil society partner from Iraq

“Our peer learning initiative with WPHF acted as a catalyst, enhancing staff competencies, improving safeguarding behavior, and motivating our organization to strengthen policies and operational standards.”

WPHF civil society partner from Bangladesh

“The most significant change achieved [through WPHF] has been the strengthened leadership and meaningful participation of women in WPS advocacy and peacebuilding spaces at national and regional levels. Women have moved from being marginally consulted to actively influencing peace and security discussions, priorities, and commitments.”

WPHF civil society partner from Uganda

Albania
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Cyprus
Estonia
EU
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Republic of Korea
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America
Albania
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Cyprus
Estonia
EU
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Republic of Korea
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America

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