Donor contributions
Donor support is central to Spotlight Initiative’s ability to ensure that women and girls around the world can live free from violence. The European Union’s initial contribution of more than $500 million in 2017 allowed us to implement more than 25 country programmes, six regional programmes and two civil society grant-giving programmes.
By the end of 2025, Spotlight Initiative had prevented an estimated 21 million women and girls from experiencing gender-based violence.
We aim to reach even more people with life-saving support as the Initiative enters its second phase.
Spotlight Initiative is scaling up to include bilateral partnerships with donor governments and institutions alongside other types of investors, including international financial institutions and the private sector.
This work has never been more crucial. Gains towards ending harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and early, child and forced marriages risk being undone without additional investment. With support from donors, Spotlight Initiative will continue delivering programmes to eliminate violence against women and girls globally.
The following donors are generously supporting Spotlight Initiative’s comprehensive work in its second phase. Their contributions have enabled the development of new and innovative programmes to end violence against women and girls.
The European Union
The European Union (EU) played a pivotal role as a partner in Spotlight Initiative’s first phase and remains Spotlight Initiative's largest donor in the Initiative’s second phase. The EU’s investment of more than $500 million was instrumental in launching Spotlight Initiative and delivering high-impact results for women and girls worldwide. The EU's commitment to ensuring freedom from all forms of gender-based violence is emphasized in its Gender Action Plan, which prioritizes gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is a crucial partner of Spotlight Initiative, providing support to the Initiative's programme in Uganda with a contribution of $8 million. The country’s official development cooperation programme focuses on four themes in its foreign policy concerned with women’s rights and gender equality, including preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls. The Netherlands’ commitment to Spotlight Initiative's second phase ensures the continuation of successful mechanisms established under the first phase.
Belgium
Belgium is committed to achieving gender equality, a key focus area in its Development Cooperation. Belgium's framework for addressing sexual health and reproductive rights includes a commitment to combating gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child, early and forced marriage. This steadfast commitment to gender equality is evident in Belgium’s flexible global contribution of over $2.1 million to Spotlight Initiative’s 2.0 Fund.
Ireland
Ireland is working towards achieving gender equality, including as part of its A Better World framework, which lists eliminating gender-based violence as central to its foreign policy agenda.
Ireland’s support for Spotlight Initiative’s 2.0 Fund demonstrates this commitment, with a contribution of more than $1.8 million for a new programme in Zambia over the next three years. This funding supports the Initiative’s goal of expanding its impact into new countries and regions.