The US government recently cancelled over $ 900million in planned international aid funding, including varied controversial and high-profile programs around the globe. From medical programs in Mozambique and political strengthening in Moldova to increasing "socio-economic cohesion among marginalized communities of Kosovo Roma, Ashkali, and Egypt", the cancellations have raised questions about the future of US aid efforts abroad.
Among the cancelled projects are notable initiatives such as a $ 40million "gender equality and women empowerment hub," a $ 9.7million to develop "a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills" for UC Berkeley, $ 2.3million to strengthen "independent voices in Canada", and $ 32million to the Plague Civil Society Centre. The cancellations of these programs which were set to support global health, democratic governance and economic development has drawn mixed reactions.
The cuts are part of an ongoing shift in US foreign policy which increasingly prioritizes domestic needs over international commitments. This movement raise international questions about the future of global partnerships, particularly in countries like Nepal, where $ 19million and $ 20 million were dedicated to "biodiversity conservation" and "fiscal federalism" respectively, have been dragged.
Some of the most controversial cancellations involve political and public procurement initiatives in Bangladesh and Serbia where millions- specifically $ 14million and $ 29million respectively-, were allocated to strengthen political landscapes and improving public procurement processes. Experts worry that such cuts will create a vacuum, allowing authoritarian regimes to tighten political discourse and human rights.
The Us has also cancelled several initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic processes and improving education, these include $1.5 million for enhancing "voter confidence" in Liberia, $14 million allocated to promote social cohesion in Mali, and $2.5 million for "inclusive democracies Southern Asia. Likewise, 47$million meant to improve learning outcomes in Asia has been scrapped, further affecting efforts to elevate educational standards in the region.
International reactions on this cuts have been mixed, with some countries expressing disappointment at the sudden withdrawal of US support, especially in the regions where the aid had been critical for democratic progress and economic development. The move has sparked debate on whether the US will continue to play a leading role in addressing global challenges or these cuts signal a border retreat from international commitments.
