In the effect of a policy of reducing public spending and a disengagement of foreign aid, the USAID budget has experienced an alarming decrease, by around 20 % in the past five years. This reduction has led to the closure of regional offices and the cancellation of various vital programs, leaving a considerable emptiness. Public health in sub -Saharan Africa suffers from the direct consequences of this dismantling. Millions of people with antiretroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS may lose access to care. Local health organizations, which are already often under-funded, struggle to fill this void.
The education system also undergoes the harmful effects of this reduction in aid. Programs supporting teachers’ training and improved school infrastructure are declining. In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, children of rural areas are found without access to quality education, thus compromising their future and that of their country. Schools, which counted on USAID funding for school nutrition programs, are now faced with food shortages. Food security is seriously threatened by the reduction of aid. USAID played a crucial role in supporting farmers and improving agricultural techniques. With the decrease in funding, millions of small farmers in Ethiopia and Malawi are fighting to maintain their production.
Faced with the void left by the closure of the USAID, local actors try to adapt with limited resources. Some organizations innovate by developing community financing solutions and strengthening solidarity between villages. But their ability to replace American aid remains insufficient and, in many cases, the benefits remain superficial. The gradual withdrawal of the United States of assistance in sub-Saharan Africa opens the door to other actors, including China, Turkey, Russia and Qatar, who intensify their investments in the region. The need for renewed international support, based on fair and sustainable partnerships, is more crucial than ever to guarantee a better future for vulnerable populations in the region.