EU sets aside €557m for Nigeria, Africa in €1.9bn humanitarian budget for 2026

The European Union has earmarked €557 million in humanitarian assistance for Nigeria and other African countries as part of an initial €1.9 billion humanitarian aid budget for 2026, with particular attention on crisis-hit regions, including North-West Nigeria.

The funding was announced on Wednesday by the European Commission amid growing global humanitarian needs and shrinking donor contributions.

The €557 million allocation covers 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, while a separate €14.6 million has been set aside for North Africa.

According to the Commission, the announcement comes at a critical time when an estimated 239 million people worldwide require humanitarian assistance, even as major international donors are reducing funding.

The EU said the new budget underscores its determination to sustain life-saving support in the face of escalating conflicts, climate shocks and economic instability.

Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, is presenting the EU’s humanitarian commitment this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where she is engaging private sector leaders to help close the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available public funding.

“The humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain, and public funding alone will not meet the scale of the crisis.

“Europe is taking action, committing an initial €1.9 billion for 2026. As the largest humanitarian donor, we are taking our political responsibility and leading the global response”, Lahbib said.

She added that her participation in Davos is aimed at mobilising businesses and investors to “think bigger, move faster, and act together” by introducing innovation, scale and new financing models to complement traditional aid.

The EU said its humanitarian interventions will continue to prioritise emergency food assistance, shelter, healthcare, protection for vulnerable populations, and education support for children in crisis-affected areas.
It stressed that despite mounting pressure on international humanitarian law and declining global support, the bloc remains committed to delivering aid to people in need, regardless of location.

Beyond Africa, the EU’s 2026 initial allocation includes €448 million for the Middle East, with a strong focus on Gaza following last year’s fragile ceasefire, as well as support for Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.

Another €145 million has been allocated to humanitarian operations in Ukraine, as Russia’s invasion enters its fourth year, alongside an additional €8 million for projects in Moldova.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran will receive €126 million, while Central and South America and the Caribbean have been allocated €95 million to address crises driven by armed conflict, political instability, inequality and environmental challenges.

The EU will also channel €73 million to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with emphasis on the crisis in Myanmar and its spillover effects in Bangladesh.

In addition, more than €415 million has been reserved to respond to sudden-onset emergencies worldwide and to maintain a strategic humanitarian supply chain.

As part of efforts to broaden funding sources, Lahbib will co-host an event titled “New Alliances in Aid and Development” with the World Economic Forum on January 22, alongside a series of bilateral meetings with business leaders and investors.