The decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development has sent shockwaves across the globe, leaving millions in Africa vulnerable to a humanitarian disaster of staggering proportions. The sudden freeze on nearly all foreign aid is not just a policy shift; it threatens to unravel decades of progress in healthcare, education, and economic development.
For over six decades, USAID has been a beacon of hope in sub-Saharan Africa. Its programs have been the difference between life and death for millions, tackling deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. The abrupt withdrawal of funding has already begun to take its toll. In Nigeria, AbulMumini Isah, a senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, lamented, “But for the dramatic events in Washington, DC, [we] would have been plodding through the dusty streets of Northern Nigeria right now on a field study aimed at improving HIV treatment across the country.” This research, launched three years ago by Georgetown Global Health Nigeria in partnership with USAID, has been halted due to the stop-work order, jeopardizing advancements in HIV care.
In Malawi, the freeze has had devastating consequences. The U.S. previously provided over $350 million annually to Malawi, supporting healthcare, education, and infrastructure. With the aid suspension, life-saving medical supplies and food for children have been halted, exacerbating the country’s economic challenges.
Beyond healthcare, the impact of USAID’s closure extends deep into Africa’s economic and social fabric. Agricultural initiatives that have helped smallholder farmers boost food security are now defunct. Education programs that provided scholarships, built schools, and trained teachers have ground to a halt. Microfinance projects that empowered women entrepreneurs to escape poverty are no longer operational. In nations like Ethiopia and South Africa, foreign investors once encouraged by USAID-backed economic reforms are pulling back, sending shockwaves through already fragile economies.
The political consequences are equally dire. For years, USAID has played a pivotal role in strengthening democratic institutions, funding election monitoring, and supporting civil society. Without this stabilizing force, fragile democracies could slide into chaos. Corruption, political violence, and authoritarian rule may flourish where accountability once stood. The vacuum left by the U.S. will not remain empty China and Russia are already stepping in, offering financial deals that come with heavy political strings.
The humanitarian fallout of this decision cannot be overstated. Millions who relied on USAID’s support now find themselves abandoned. A mother in Kenya wonders how she will afford malaria treatment for her child. A young girl in Ghana, whose education depended on a USAID-funded scholarship, faces an uncertain future. Communities that once had access to clean water through USAID projects now struggle with disease outbreaks. These are not statistics; these are human lives, each one profoundly affected by a decision made in Washington, far removed from their suffering.
The argument that this move is about fiscal responsibility does not hold up under scrutiny. The U.S. foreign aid budget has always been a fraction of overall spending less than 1% yet its impact has been monumental. By withdrawing support, the U.S. is not saving money; it is forfeiting global leadership, ceding influence, and allowing instability to take root in regions that were on the path to progress. The economic and security consequences of this decision will not stay confined to Africa. Humanitarian crises lead to mass displacement, creating waves of refugees. Political instability breeds extremism, threatening global security. The U.S. has not just abandoned its commitments; it has made the world a more dangerous place for everyone.
But all hope is not lost. The international community must step up where the U.S. has stepped back. African governments, development agencies, and private philanthropists must forge new alliances, ensuring that critical programs do not collapse. The European Union, the United Nations, and emerging global powers must fill the void before the damage becomes irreversible. And the American people, many of whom have supported USAID’s mission for decades, must hold their leaders accountable, demanding a reversal of this disastrous policy.
This is not just a debate about aid; it is a test of global humanity. Do we stand by and watch decades of progress crumble, or do we act? The world is watching. The time to step up is now.
Stephanie Shaakaa University of Agriculture
Makurdi, Benue State.
