Looming Disintegration: Women's Groups Bracing for Impending Demise in Conflict Regions

May 20 2025 By Evelyne Hoffman*Ecology0 Comments*

The looming crumble of women's organizations in war-torn territories and disaster-stricken regions looms as a major crisis threatening women's survival. More than half of these vital groups may shutter their doors within half a year due to a staggering lack of funds, warns a recent UN Women report.

These groups courageously stand as beacons of hope for women and girls grappling with discrimination, sexual violence, and restricted access to essential services in over 70 nations reliant on humanitarian aid. Yet, humanitarian funds earmarked for women-focused initiatives drip through the cracks, imperiling decades of progress in gender parity, healthcare, and protection.

This piece explores the repercussions in war zones.

The Size of the Predicament

A 2025 UN Women survey found that 90% of women-led groups in crisis areas have faced funding cuts. Of these, a whopping 51% were forced to halt key programs—including those catering to victims of gender-based violence—while 72% shed staff members. Without immediate financial infusions, 47% anticipate folding operations entirely within the next six months.

The United Nations estimates that a staggering 308 million individuals across 73 countries depend on life-saving humanitarian aid, with women and girls disproportionately affected by conflicts, natural disasters, and economic instability. These organizations serve as the last line of defense for women, offering legal aid, psychological support, and medical care. As these essential bodies close up shop in record numbers, the future looks bleak.

Hotspots of Impact in War Zones

Afghanistan: Remnants of women's organizations have ceased operations following the withdrawal of foreign aid post-2021 and the Taliban's restrictive policies. GBV shelters and health clinics have been shuttered. Women face severe mobility and employment constraints, further limiting their access to vital services.
Ukraine: The ongoing conflict has ravaged women's support services. The Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health had to close down several life-saving assistance programs, putting hundreds of women at risk on a monthly basis. Women veterans' support programs hang in the balance.
Sudan: Sudan ranks among the most precarious environments for women and girls, with ongoing conflict and nearly complete donor withdrawal forcing women's teams to retreat and shutter operations.
Haiti: The surge in gang violence has fueled epidemic levels of rape, especially in Port-au-Prince. Women's organizations struggle to keep their heads above water, with many staff members facing threats or relocation.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): The DRC recorded a 50% increase in conflict-related sexual violence in 2023, with 3,688 verified UN cases. Local non-profit organizations, often the only frontline supporters for survivors, stand on the brink of closure due to insufficient funds.
Syria and Yemen: Prolonged conflict and donor fatigue have caused the shuttering of safe spaces and reproductive health services, resulting in rising maternal mortality rates and GBV-related trauma with less support.

The following outlines a few key impacts on crucial war zones.

Note: The data provided reflects recent reports and estimates; actual figures may be higher, given the chaotic nature of conflicts and difficulty in data collection.

Current Obstacles for Women's Groups in War Zones

Despite the Peacebuilding Fund allocating 47% of its 2023 investments to gender equality and women empowerment, the demand for support surpasses available resources. Inflated funding mechanisms and rigid grant structures leave local non-profits vulnerable in war zones. Organizations like WO=MEN (Ukraine) and Karama (Sudan) continually grapple with the challenges of maintaining operations.

Funding scarcity goes hand-in-hand with systemic neglect: women's rights and leadership suffer ridicule amid the surge of militarized crises. Providers report that grants have remained frozen, while flexibility regarding funds has vanished. This systemic disregard is evident by the dramatic increase in military spending worldwide, as well as the stagnant or decreasing allocation of humanitarian aid concentrations.

Closure Ramifications in War Zones

Vanishing Critical Services: Over 60% of surveyed groups have suspended GBV programs, including counseling, shelters, and counseling.
Eroding Representation: Women's leadership platforms dissolve. In Ukraine, women's initiatives for military personnel falter, potentially nullifying gains in defense sector gender inclusion.
Health and Well-being Slide-back: The dismantling of women's organizations affects maternal and reproductive healthcare, leading to preventable deaths, malnutrition, and heightened maternal morbidity in fragile settings.
Economic Crippling: Cooperatives and self-help groups for women, offering skills training and earning opportunities, are being disbanded, undermining economic resilience.
Slide Backwards: The absence of these organizations perpetuates inequality and hinders progress toward SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The retracting of women's participation also weakens broader peacebuilding and recovery initiatives.

Local Partnerships and Resilience

Despite grim forecasts, women's organizations persist in their pursuit of justice in war zones:

In Mali, peace clubs engage women and youth in discussions about conflict resolution and debate. Women's participation in these discussions correlates with reduced violence.
In the DRC, grassroots employees fill in for state services, offering trauma recovery workshops and shelter for survivors in remote areas.
In Haiti, where one in five women reports being raped in some neighborhoods, local feminist collectives persevere in advocating despite safety threats.

Solutions and Strategies

Flexible Core Funding: In 2023, $1.5 billion was pledged globally to the WPS-HA Compact. However, only $1.2 billion went to women's involvement in peace processes. Core support for local feminist organizations remains in short supply.
Systemic Analysis: Using the Iceberg Model, advocates aim to expose the surface-level funding gaps and the deeper policy failures that cause them. Calls for feminist funding frameworks are gathering steam.
Men's Engagement: In Uganda, programs focusing on motorcycle taxi drivers transformed them into guardians against gender-based violence. Such models offer promise for replication.
Investing in Local Expertise: Collaborations with traditional and community leaders can result in lasting impact. Programs that provide vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and financial resources empower women economically while embedding social change.

Iconic Examples

Haiti: Women's NGOs battle against a tidal wave of gang violence and displacement. Their advocacy sheds light on systemic impunity, pushing international organizations to implement survivor-focused approaches.
Mali: Though resource-rich, Mali suffers from wealth inequality and conflict. Programs encouraging women's involvement in artisanal gold mining reforms and inter-community peacebuilding have demonstrated noticeable success.
DRC: With sexual violence cases on the rise, women's organizations provide crisis shelters and legal advocacy, helping push UN response frameworks to incorporate local indicators.

The UN Women report warns that more than half of women-focused organizations in war-torn and disaster-stricken regions may shut down within six months due to insufficient funds, potentially threatening women's health, mental health, and sexual health, which are vital aspects of general news and health-and-wellness.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban's restrictive policies and the withdrawal of foreign aid post-2021 have caused the ceasing of operations for remnants of women's organizations, leading to severe mobility and employment constraints for women, further limiting their access to essential services such as healthcare, legal aid, and psychological support.
In Syria and Yemen, the ongoing conflict and donor fatigue have resulted in the closing of safe spaces and reproductive health services, causing an increase in maternal mortality rates and GBV-related trauma with less support. This situation is part of the broader crisis in politics and war-and-conflicts affecting women and girls disproportionately.
Despite the Peacebuilding Fund allocating a significant portion of its investments to gender equality and women empowerment, funding scarcity and systemic neglect remain major obstacles for women's organizations in war zones, leaving them vulnerable and struggling to maintain operations.
In Uganda, programs focusing on motorcycle taxi drivers have proven successful in engaging men as guardians against gender-based violence, demonstrating the potential for effective strategies in promoting gender equality. Investing in local expertise and men's engagement is crucial for strengthening the long-term resilience and sustainability of women's organizations and feminist movements.