Problem Statements and IRI's Responses

In recent years, the humanitarian sector has been shaken by significant shifts in international funding — most acutely felt in 2025, when major funding withdrawals sent ripple effects across the entire ecosystem of NGOs and CSOs operating in conflict-affected regions including Myanmar. Organizations that had built their programs and staffing around a single funding source found themselves in crisis overnight — not because their work had lost value, but because their financial foundation was too narrow to absorb the shock.

Funding volatility is not a new problem — but its consequences have never been more visible. Short funding cycles, restricted grants tied to narrow project deliverables, and the sudden withdrawal of institutional support leave organizations unable to plan beyond the immediate term, unable to invest in their own people and systems, and ultimately unable to serve their communities with the consistency and quality those communities deserve.

IRI's response is clear: the most powerful protection against funding volatility is organizational strength. When an NGO or CSO has robust financial systems, diversified funding relationships, proven accountability mechanisms, and a well-trained team — it can weather shocks, adapt to change, and continue its mission regardless of the shifting winds of international aid.