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Newsletter

The Weekly Pulse

News From Organizations and Coalitions in Advocacy for Children and Young People Globally
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Volume 234

June 16, 2025
QUICK SUMMARY
 
On June 12, the House of Representatives voted by a razor-thin margin of 214-212 to pass the Trump administration’s rescission package, which includes $8.3 billion in previously approved foreign assistance funds. If the package is approved in the Senate, the U.S. would rescind $900 million in global health spending and billions in disaster and development aid, United Nations agencies’ funding, and more. Emily Byers, the Managing Director of Global Development Policy at Save the Children USA, told Devex that the majority of the rescinded money comes from a foreign affairs bill passed in March 2025, after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had already taken “a chainsaw to USAID.” Byers points out that this “‘money is not programmed, not obligated, not funding any Biden-era anything,” and that “it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense” that the administration is clawing it back, when they could use it to fund their own priorities and when Secretary of State Rubio has said that foreign assistance is “still something that we’re going to do.” Read more here. 

On June 11, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance published an article on ways it has saved lives through innovative finance. One example is Gavi’s acceleration of access to pneumococcal vaccines. Through top ups from its Pneumococcal Advance Market Commitment (AMC) funds, Gavi incentivized manufacturers to bring new vaccines to market and make them available at lower costs in eligible countries. Thanks to vaccines, pneumonia deaths in children have been reduced by almost half since 2010. Read more here.

On June 10, UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO) released new estimates indicating that nearly 138 million children worldwide were engaged in child labor in 2024, including about 54 million working in hazardous conditions that likely “jeopardize their health, safety, or development.” Although the data show a total reduction of more than 20 million children engaged in child labor since 2020, the world missed its target of completely eliminating child labor by 2025. The largest sector for child labor remains agriculture, accounting for 61% of cases; followed by services, such as domestic work and selling goods in markets (27% of cases); and industry, including mining and manufacturing (13% of cases). Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly two thirds of all child labor cases, around 87 million. UNICEF and ILO call on governments to accelerate progress toward the total elimination of child labor worldwide by investing in social protection for vulnerable households, such as universal child benefits; strengthening child protection systems; providing universal access to high-quality basic education; ensuring decent work for adults and youth; enforcing laws and business accountability to end the exploitation of children across supply chains. Read more here.

On June 9, Devex reported that at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference the week before, Germany indicated a willingness to step into the void left “as the U.S. abandons its multilateral commitments under President Donald Trump.” Since USAID was dismantled by the Trump administration, Germany has become the world’s largest single donor of official development assistance in absolute numbers. At the Conference, held on June 2 and 3, German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil “gave a full-throated defense of multilateralism” and announced plans “for a new North-South Commission that positions Berlin as the standard-bearer for multilateral cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.” The Commission will “develop ‘new north-south policies for a multipolar world.’” Read the article here.​
SPOTLIGHT

​​Continuing Fallout of Foreign Aid Cuts

The consequences of the Trump administration’s foreign assistance cuts continue to impact children worldwide and the global children’s aid sector. 

On June 10, Devex reported that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is “facing intense pushback from staff” over proposals to drastically cut the agency’s budget, reduce its workforce, and scale back programming. Facing an estimated 20% reduction in donor funding in 2026 compared to 2024, UNICEF leadership has outlined a plan to cut at least 25% of its core budget; consolidate its seven regional offices into four centers based in Amman, Bangkok, Nairobi, and Panama City; and phase out programming in high-income European countries. Arguing that the proposed restructuring will ultimately harm children, UNICEF staff and regional heads have circulated a series of internal memos to the agency’s leadership urging them to “pursue other, less disruptive means to rein in costs.” The executive committees of local staff associations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Romania have expressed “deep concern, dismay and strong disagreement” with the plan to end European programming, warning that it puts at risk UNICEF’s reputation, advocacy work, visibility, fundraising, and ability to effectively respond to emergencies and protect children’s rights. The proposed cuts have “heightened tensions” between UNICEF leadership and rank-and-file workers, and “pitted” field staff “against the global staff union leadership in New York.” 

On June 11, Devex reported on the “human fallout” of United States funding cuts to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which supports a global network of free clinics and sexual and reproductive health facilities. As part of its foreign aid freeze, the Trump administration terminated 44 of its grants to UNFPA, totaling $335 million. The White House has also asked Congress to rescind previously approved funds for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, including funding for UNFPA. Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request eliminates funding for family planning entirely. These cuts and rescissions are most heavily impacting UNFPA’s humanitarian and lifesaving programming, since U.S. funding comprised about 42% of UNFPA’s entire humanitarian budget in 2024. Without funding, clinics will no longer be able to offer free reproductive health services. A midwife working at a clinic in one of the poorest parts of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, told Devex that nobody will come to the clinic if it isn’t free and that there will be a “big increase” in abortions, mothers’ death, and teenage pregnancies. A spokesperson for UNFPA also warned that the cuts will stop gender-based violence prevention and response services for 250,000 people in Madagascar, including those living with disabilities

On June 12, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, hosted a spotlight forum on the role of foreign assistance in supporting American farmers and protecting American agriculture. The forum highlighted how the Trump administration’s cuts to the USAID and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs have harmed American farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness and exacerbated global food insecurity, since U.S. farmers supply an estimated 40% of international food assistance, including $2 billion annually in surplus commodities. One of the forum’s speakers was Sarah Charles, who formerly oversaw food assistance programs as Assistant to the Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. She warned that America’s lifesaving legacy of food aid is being threatened by the Trump administration’s “chaos and cruelty,” noting that of nearly $5 billion appropriated by Congress for emergency food and nutrition assistance, only 20% has been allocated. These cuts have caused devastating consequences worldwide, including the shuttering of emergency nutrition centers in Somalia, “putting 55,000 children at immediate risk of death.” Charles stated that “globally, 1 million kids in 17 countries are losing a daily meal, often their only meal,” as school feeding programs are slashed. 

Watch the whole forum here.
EVENTS​​
  • South Africa Labour and Development Research Unit webinar, “The Importance of an Integrated Approach to Youth Employment: Lessons from the Basic Package of Support for NEET Youth.” June 17, 2025.
  • OECD webinar, “Turning insights into impact: What do early case studies reveal about the power of PISA for Schools?” June 19, 2025. 
  • South Africa Labour and Development Research Unit webinar, “Should Labour Market Regulations Be Relaxed to Promote Youth Employment?” June 24, 2025.
  • Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health webinar, “Born Too Soon Supplement Launch Webinar: A Launch into Progress, Priorities and Pivots for Preterm Birth.”June 24, 2025.

​REPORTS, ARTICLES, & RESOURCES​
​​
  • ChildFund blog post, “Muddy hands, full hearts: The power of nature in childhood and beyond.”
  • CNN article, “How the $1,000-per-baby ‘Trump accounts’ would work and who would benefit most.”
  • Gavi article, “Game theory explains why reasonable parents make vaccine choices that fuel outbreaks.”
  • CBS19 article, “East Texas law enforcement agencies assist in FBI operation that rescued 109 children from online sexual exploitation.”
  • First Focus on Children article, “Budget bill targets the nation’s children, analysts say in Capitol Hill briefing.”
  • Ms. Magazine article, “The Ugliest of Bills: How Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill Endangers All Children.”
  • First Focus on Children issue brief, “Research Confirms that Early Learning Investments Increase Benefits to Children, Lower Costs to Taxpayers.”
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ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
​
The Initiative's weekly newsletter is a collection of updates on coalitions, networks, and organizations that advocate for the U.S. government to support children and young people globally.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

 ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS
JUNE 2025

Vol. 234: The Weekly Pulse


Vol. 233: The Weekly Pulse

​Vol. 232: The Weekly Pulse

MAY 2025

Vol. 231: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 230: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 229: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 228: The Weekly Pulse

APRIL 2025
​

Vol. 227: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 226: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 225: The Weekly Pulse

MARCH 2025

Vol. 224: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 223: The Weekly Pulse

Vol.222: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 221: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 220: The Weekly Pulse

FEBRUARY 2025


Vol. 219: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 218: The Weekly Pulse


Vol. 217: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 216: The Weekly Pulse 
​

JANUARY 2025


Vol. 215: The Weekly Pulse 

Vol. 214: The Weekly Pulse

​Vol. 213: The Weekly Pulse


DECEMBER 2024

Vol. 212: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 211: The Weekly Pulse

Vol. 210: The Weekly Pulse


NOVEMBER 2024

Vol. 209: The First Global Ministerial Conference on EVAC Recap, World Children's Day, PLAN International Report on Girls & International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: A Global Call to Action.

Vol. 208: Save the Children Report, Education Finance Watch 2024 &World Index on the Rights of Women and Children.

Vol. 207: COP29 Call to Action, President Donald Trump Wins Re-Election, 2024/25 GEM Report & First Global Ministerial on Ending Violence on Children.

Vol. 206:Thrive Coalition Call to Action, USAID Disability Policy, Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls, Investing in Street-Connected Children and Youth.​


OCTOBER 2024

Vol. 205: Together for Girls Letter, Safe Futures Hub Report, and Civil Society Pledge Priorities for the Ending Violence Against Children Ministerial.

Vol. 204: UNGEI Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, Anthem Awards, INHOPE Global CSAM Legislative Overview, & The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.​

Vol. 203: GCE-US FY25 International Basic Education Letter, International Day of the Girl, KOSA & COPPA 2.0, & World Teacher’s Day.

Vol. 202: PLAN International Report, Women’s Refugee Commission’s 35th Anniversary Gala, & USAID Advancing Gender Equality in and Through Education: FY2023 Results Brief.


SEPTEMBER 2024

Vol. 201: Child Safety and Well-Being Alert, UNGA Side Events and US Government Remarks.

Vol. 200: First-ever Humanitarian Violence Against Children Survey (HVACS), Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 Report &  The Children's Budget Summit.

Vol. 199: U.S. Census Bureau Data, 2024 Presidential Debate & The 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Vol. 198: YP2LE Event, ChildFund Request for Proposals & Analysis on Project 2025 Impact on Children.


AUGUST 2024

Vol. 197:  Expression of Interest for NuMERAL, USAID Global Health Development Policy Input Request, USAID YouthPower2 Activity.

Vol. 196: TfG Sign-on Letter, New GCE-US Executive Director, The Global Survivor Council, Expression of Interest for NuMERAL.

Vol. 195: TfG Sign-on Letter to OMB, Moving Minds Alliance, CDC Youth Behavior Survey & Child Tax Credit Senate Vote.

Vol. 194: The Child Safety and Well-being Act of 2024 Sign-on Letter, The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons & USAID Mental Health Position Paper.


JULY 2024

Vol. 193: Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force Report, CDC VACS Video, UNICEF Data on Global HIV Impact & New USAID Report.

Vol. 192: Girls Leading Change, U.S. Supreme Court Case Wins, Beyond the Screen: Hidden Voices of Online Abuse, and RESULTS Report.

Vol. 191: USAID Initiative Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity Analysis, READ Act Reauthorization, Beyond the Screen: Hidden Voices of Online Abuse.

Vol. 190: 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report Analysis, Council of Europe CGU, Mapping for Health Project.

Vol. 189: Advisory on Firearm Violence, New NCMEC & Thorn Technology, New Report of TFGBV, House SFOPS Appropriation Bill Analysis.


JUNE 2024

Vol. 188: UNESCO Report, IEE Standards Association Report, FirstFocus Report, Recent Initiative Grantee Advocacy.

Vol. 187: Safe to Learn coalition, International Day of Play, House SFOPS Appropriations Bill, Elevate Children Funders Group Meeting​.

Vol.186: Child Protection Compact Partnership Funding, UNICEF Visit to DRC, Call for New International Treaty, & UNICEF Child Food Poverty Report.

Vol. 185: Childlight Global Safety Institute Tool, First Five Years Fund Poll, UN Child Rights Committee, Together for Girls Letter to Administration & ‘Adolescents in a Changing World’.


MAY 2024

Vol. 184: Futures Without Violence Wins 2024 Silver Halo Award, CPFI Speaks at The Children Budget Coalition, Child Rights Connect & The Joining Forces Coalition’s New Policy Brief.

Vol. 183:ChildFund Wins Webby Award, UNICEF Regional Director Statement on the Middle East, New Publication in The Lancet & ‘The Impact of Climate Change on Education’.

Vol. 182: ‘Fight for Our Future: Act Now for Disabled Children’, EuroChild Report, INEE 2024 Minimum Standards for Education, & Biden signs REPORT Act into Law.

Vol. 181: ‘Our Rights, Our Future’, ‘Addressing Violence in and Through Education’, New Disrupting Harm Project Data, ‘The Toxic Truth Report’ & Detecting Orphanage Trafficking and Exploitation.


APRIL 2024

Vol. 180: World Health Organization, UNICEF Addresses UN Security Council, Adverse Childhood Experiences Special Issue & ‘Putting Children First in Sustainable Development’.

Vol. 179: Blue Umbrella Day, Cyber Tipline 2023 Report, UNICEF’s Catherine Russell, & Barnahus Model in Montenegro.

Vol. 178: ‘Behind Closed Doors’, 2024 Dirty Dozen List, Miranda Forsyth, & Speaking up for Change’.​

Vol. 177: ‘Our Rights. Our Future. The Europe We Want.’, Leonardo Garnier, ‘Weaving Collective Practice’ & National Child Abuse Prevention Month.​

Vol. 176: UNICEF Report, International Day of Play, Moms First & Digital Futures for Children.


MARCH 2024

Vol. 175: International Women’s Day, Child Rights and Business in the Digital Environment, ‘Transforming Tomorrow’, & European Committee of Social Rights.​

Vol. 174: ‘Start Where You Are’, UN-IGME, Global SOL Task Force.

Vol. 173: #InspireInclusion, 2KNOW Project, Strategy for the Rights of the Child, and Women, Business and the Law.​

Vol. 172: Y25 Gender Community SFOPS Request, PEPFAR, & UNICEF Event


​FEBRUARY 2024

Vol. 171: First Focus Podcast, International Basic Education Coalition, & World Thinking Day.

Vol. 169: International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, & Safer Internet Day.


​Vol. 168: Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education, & Georgetown University event
​

JANUARY 2024
​

Vol. 167: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, International Day of Education, & Thrive Coalition Event

Vol. 166: First Focus Legislative Scorecard, Lead Poisoning, & U.S. Department of Labor Award.


Vol. 165: CPFI White House Joint Memorandum, READ Reauthorization Act, & First Focus Letter to the President​

Vol. 164: U.S. APCCA Government Strategy, Keeping Girls in School Act, & UN Children’s Rights Event.
​

DECEMBER 2023
Vol. 163: Georgetown University Event, USAID’s Children in Adversity Office, & 2023 Global Refugee Forum

Vol. 162: International Day of Persons with Disabilities, COP28, & Human Rights Watch Report

Vol. 161: USAID Disability Policy, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, & Council on Foundations Report.


NOVEMBER 2023
Vol. 160: World Children's Day, Climate Change and Life Course, & Ukrainian Children.
​

​Vol. 159: GCE-US Call to Action, World Children’s Day, & World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence

Vol. 158: READ Reauthorization Act, PEPFAR & HFAC Markups

OCTOBER 2023
Vol. 156: New U.S. House Speaker, House Committee Hearing & New Reports.

Vol. 155: Whole Child Video, InterAction Forum, & Congressional Reception. ​

Vol. 154: Israel-Hamas Conflict & International Day of the Girl Child​

Vol. 153: Congressional Legislation, PEPFAR, & Speaker of the House Removal


Vol. 152: Children’s Budget Book 2023, UNICEF Children with Disabilities Report, & U.S. Government Shutdown

​SEPTEMBER 2023
Vol. 151: USAID Donor Statement, GEM Report, & UNGA Event.

Vol. 150: #TakeItDown, Ready, Set, READ!, & House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing

Vol. 149: PEPFAR, UNICEF Child Alert, & Foreign Policy Event


​Vol. 148: READ Act Reauthorization, US-Nepal Child Protection Compact, & UN Child Rights Mainstreaming
​

AUGUST 2023
Vol. 147: Sanctions on Russia, Sudan, and Girls Not Brides Event
​

Vol. 146: New USAID Indicator, International Youth Day, & Lancet Article. 

Vol. 145: READ Reauthorization Act, U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, and Youth Power 2 event. 
​

Vol. 144: USAID 2023 LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy & Georgetown University event.

Vol. 143: YPS Act Reintroduction, Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, & U.S. Helsinki Committee Hearing.
​

JULY 2023
Vol. 142: Strengthening Efforts To End Violence Against Children Act (H.R. 4748), Child Labor Prevention Task Force, & U.S. Senate Appropriations Hearing. ​

Vol. 141: FY 2024 Appropriations Bill, International Children with Disabilities Protection Act, & Georgetown Event.

Vol. 140: USAID Climate Strategy, UNICEF report, & Sesame Street Ukraine Workshop.


JUNE 2023
Vol. 139: M-mama emergency transportation system & House Appropriations Committee Republicans draft fiscal year 2024 SFOP Appropriations bill​

Vol. 138: DRI Report, USAID FY22 Localization Report, & U.S. Department of Labor event. 
​

Vol. 137: USAID Youth in Development Policy and Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy Sign-On Letter, UNICEF Report, & Children’s Week 2023. ​

Vol. 136: United States-Jamaica Child Protection Compact, FTC order, & U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
​

MAY 2023
Vol. 135: U.S.-Australia Joint Statement, InterAction Farm Bill article, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing

Vol. 134: HFAC Roundtable Discussion, ChildFund and World Vision Event, & GCE-US Spotlight Event. 
​

Vol. 133: Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation, House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing, and Decolonizing Education Financing. 
​

Vol. 132: Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 2023 International Summit on the Teaching Profession & Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools to Transform Education for All Children event.

​
Vol. 131: USAID Budget Hearing & Cities Summit of the Americas. 

Vol. 130: USAID Budget Hearing & Cities Summit of the Americas. 

ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS 

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​The Children's Policy and Funding Initiative is made possible through generous funding provided by several leading foundations.  The Initiative is a pooled funding project housed at Tides Center.  

  • Home
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    • USG Top Priority
    • US Government Initiatives
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    • Secretariat >
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