USAID Without Them: Resilience and the Future of [Region/Community]

The ‌Trump administration’s freeze on U.S. foreign assistance in January ⁢led to the loss ‌of funding for organizations supporting vulnerable populations ⁣in countries like Uganda ‍and Congo. In Uganda, James ⁢Lule’s association, which provided support and counseling for people living with HIV/AIDS, lost most of its⁢ funding, shuttering a safe meeting space and halting services. ‍ In eastern Congo, a⁣ USAID-subsidized business training program for rape survivors, including Furaha, was abruptly closed, leaving women without a vital support system ⁣amidst ongoing conflict. The cuts ‌have resulted in layoffs,demoralization among aid​ workers,and a loss of ⁢connection to the communities they serve,with organizations like the National forum of People Living with ‍HIV/AIDS Networks in ‌Uganda now‍ operating with limited staff and resources. Jakkie Cilliers‍ of the Institute for Security Studies describes the ‍impact as support systems “crumbling” across ⁣the African continent.