The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced plans to reduce its global workforce by 20%, amounting to approximately 500 positions. This decision is due to a $58 million funding shortfall, primarily resulting from the United States cutting its annual contribution of $63 million, which would have covered 20% of OCHA’s 2025 budget.
OCHA’s Chief, Tom Fletcher, stated that the agency currently has about 2,600 staff across more than 60 countries. The funding gap necessitates a reduction to around 2,100 staff and a consolidation of operations in fewer locations. Countries where operations will be scaled back include Nigeria, Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Gaziantep in Turkey.
The agency emphasized that these cuts are driven by budget constraints and not a decline in humanitarian needs, which continue to rise due to conflict, climate crises, disease, and violations of international law. The funding cuts coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office and his administration’s push to realign foreign aid with the “America First” policy. Additionally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has initiated a cost-saving initiative as the organization marks its 80th anniversary amid a growing financial crisis.
