The abrupt and indiscriminate termination of almost all US Government foreign aid programs, as implemented by the Trump administration, not only risks millions of lives but also dismantles critical support for women and girls in conflict-affected areas around the world.
Women for Women International’s programs have been directly impacted. Our USAID-funded project ‘Putting Survivors at the Center’ had been reaching survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW/G) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, and South Sudan. The project worked with partners to help ensure that women in conflict zones who experience sexual violence can get the medical, psychological and legal services they need. The funding for this work was terminated immediately by the US Government as part of recent widespread cuts to foreign aid.
Foreign aid is just 1% of the US budget, and the US is not safer or stronger when we cease to invest in sustainable and long-term peace, security, and equality across the globe. The elimination of over 92% of USAID programs and 60% of State Department projects has destroyed hope for many marginalized communities doing the hard work of rebuilding after conflict.
“People began to trust organizations after recognizing their role in providing assistance. Now, with the cessation of promised support, hope and trust are being completely eroded.”
- Halima Mohmaud, Mosul, Iraq
From our global consultation, From Asking to Action, we know that aid and assistance was already failing to reach the most marginalized women in conflict-affected contexts - only 25% of the 6,366 women we consulted across 14 conflicts reported having received some form of relief and recovery assistance.
We urge the US Government and Congress to work with civil society – including women survivors of war – in communities affected by these abrupt funding freezes and terminations to develop a transparent and comprehensive foreign assistance strategy that tackles and prevents alarming levels of global violent conflict and upholds and promotes gender equality and peace.
Now more than ever, we need our global community of supporters to step in and show solidarity for the women and girls impacted by this dramatic loss of funding.