New $15.5 Million Global Fund Launches to End Female Genital Mutilation
Nairobi, 28 September 2026
The newly launched Her Horizon Fund has secured $15.5 million to back survivor-led organisations tackling female genital mutilation, aiming to mobilise $100 million to end the practice.
A Critical Lifeline Amid Declining Global Funding
The launch of the Her Horizon Fund on 27 September 2026 comes at a critical juncture for global human rights [1]. Frontline and survivor-led organisations have recently faced severe financial constraints due to a sharp decline in international aid. For instance, funding for the joint UNFPA-UNICEF programme across 18 countries plummeted by -44.932% during 2025, falling from $29.6 million to just $16.3 million [2]. This massive reduction has left grassroots activists struggling to maintain their operations.
The Impact on Frontline Organisations
This global funding squeeze has had a direct, devastating impact on local advocacy groups. The Ifrah Foundation, established by Somali-Irish activist and survivor Ifrah Ahmed, lost $300,000 in UNFPA funding during the same period [2]. Ahmed explained the gravity of the situation, stating, “Last year, the organisation lost $300,000 in funding from UNFPA, forcing it to look elsewhere for resources while continuing its advocacy and community work.” [2] To counter these shortfalls, the Wallace Global Fund stepped in to launch the Her Horizon Fund with an initial capital of $15.5 million—comprising $14 million from the Wallace Global Fund and $1.5 million from an anonymous donor [2].
Empowering Survivors and Frontline Activists
The Her Horizon Fund represents the largest known philanthropic commitment specifically dedicated to frontline organisations addressing female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) [1]. Designed to bypass traditional bureaucratic bottlenecks, the fund prioritises direct resources for survivor-led and community-based frontline organisations [2]. With grantmaking scheduled to commence in 2027, the fund ultimately aims to mobilise $100 million to help eradicate the practice within a single generation [1][2].
The Scale of the Challenge
The scale of the task ahead remains immense. Globally, more than 230 million women and girls alive today have endured FGM/C, with millions more remaining at risk [1]. This includes approximately 144 million in Africa, 80 million in Asia, and 6 million in the Middle East [2]. Beyond the profound psychological and physical trauma, a 2025 study attributes approximately 44,000 annual deaths across 15 studied countries directly to the practice [2]. Yet, hope persists through personal resolve; survivors like Fatima are breaking generational cycles, promising their newborn daughters, “You will never go through what I went through.” [3]
Navigating Legal and Legislative Hurdles
In addition to funding deficits, campaigners are navigating an increasingly complex legal and political landscape. In Somalia, while three of seven federal member states have enacted anti-FGM laws, legislation in two other states remains stalled awaiting parliamentary approval [2]. Elsewhere, progress is actively being threatened by anti-rights movements [2]. The Gambia’s Supreme Court is currently reviewing a constitutional challenge to its 2015 FGM ban following a failed parliamentary repeal attempt in 2024, while Sierra Leone’s recently enacted Child Rights Act failed to implement a total ban [2].
A Vision for the Future
With United Nations targets to eliminate FGM by 2030 currently assessed as off-track, strategic interventions like the Her Horizon Fund are more vital than ever [2]. Susan Gibbs, senior adviser on women’s rights and FGM at the Wallace Global Fund, summarised the urgency of the moment, noting, “Years of progress have been achieved, but declining funding and the rise of anti-rights movements are creating new threats.” [2] By putting financial power directly into the hands of the women and survivors leading the movement, the fund aims to secure a safer, whole future for the next generation of girls [1].