For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) played a central role in development in Sub-Saharan Africa. With an annual budget of around $8 billion, USAID focused on areas such as health care, agricultural development, economic growth and democracy promotion. The agency was particularly indispensable in the health sector: around 70% of funds went to health programs, with the fight against HIV/AIDS accounting for a large share.
In February 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day suspension of foreign aid and initiated steps to dissolve USAID. This decision led to the immediate suspension of numerous global programs and the dismissal of thousands of employees. Only 300 of the former 14,000 employees remained, with just 14 of them responsible for the entire continent of Africa. We are experiencing the consequences in Accra first hand. The affected families are in the process of leaving the country. It is somewhat reminiscent of the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. For the people of Sub-Saharan Africa, this withdrawal often has serious consequences:
Health care: HIV treatment and prevention programs have been interrupted, putting the lives of millions at risk. In Nigeria alone, over 2 million HIV patients are affected, depending on USAID-funded medication.
Humanitarian aid: Initiatives to combat hunger and support refugees have been halted, further weakening already vulnerable populations.
Economic development: Projects to promote trade and investment and strengthen local economies have been discontinued, which could have long-term negative effects on the economic stability of the region.
Solar projects have also been disconnected
In the past, USAID was also firmly committed to the topic of solar and renewable energies as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly source of energy. The Trump administration has since taken down many of the websites related to this topic, but the “Power Africa” project still bears witness to the approach and impact of the aid. In 2020, during the coronavirus crisis, USAID provided $2.6 million through Power Africa to support nine African solar companies, which in turn would ensure the supply of electricity to 288 clinics in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Power Africa – it must be said – was a US government-led partnership that brings together the collective resources of more than 170 partners from the public and private sectors to double access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of Power Africa was to create more than 30,000 megawatts of clean and efficient power generation capacity and 60 million new connections for households and businesses by 2030. The Power Africa website (https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica) is currently down, and there has been no sign of life on LinkedIn for three weeks.
USAID's withdrawal leaves a significant gap in development cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is essential that the international community acts together in a coordinated manner to close the gap that has emerged and not jeopardize the progress made in Sub-Saharan Africa in recent decades. The long-term goal must be to reduce dependence on external aid by investing in capacity building and infrastructure locally.
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