5 March 2025
The year began with shock waves, and they seem to keep rippling as the year goes on.
The impact of devastating US aid cuts announced in January is already being felt across the Global South, with no clear transition plan for affected organisations and initiatives. This challenge has been further exacerbated by European countries deciding to cut their aid budgets to increase defense spending, including France, Netherlands, and the UK, leading to the resignation of Development Minister Annaliese Dodds on Friday 28 February.
“Save the Children has estimated that between 8-12 million people supported by the charity will be impacted, at a time when about one in every 11 children globally needs humanitarian assistance.” Save the Children.
These are the figures shared for one organisation; the global figures will be staggering when accumulated.
The fast-paced changes and the unprecedented disruption this has caused globally have left many reeling. For decades there have been debates and discussions about the precarious nature and power dynamics within the current aid system and so as challenging as this historical moment is, could it also open the door for all actors to build a new, more equitable way of addressing these global challenges?
Shabaka’s work and advocacy has been focused on encouraging all stakeholders to recognise that the aid sector needs radical reform. While we are concerned about the impact on the Global South, in particular, from these poorly planned cuts, does this also create an opportunity to build a more responsive, locally led (and more effective) system?
Local responders and diaspora humanitarians have consistently shown themselves to be agile in responding to changing political, social, and economic circumstances, and they continue to provide assistance innovatively and with impact. That agility will be key over the next few months as the system reconfigures and the need for response in countries impacted by crisis continues with reduced institutional support.
The changing aid landscape also highlights the need for institutional partners (donors, international and national NGOs) to radically reconsider models of collaboration, as business –as usual is no longer an option. Humanitarian and development partners will have to find new ways of collaboration to address reduced budgets, human resources, and access.
Collaboration rather than competition is key.
Equally, it is a time for local civil society and the diaspora to identify what role they must now play to continue to support in countries of origin and heritage, forging alliances between communities here and there. Shabaka has seen the distinct benefit that is derived when diaspora from different countries share experience, advice and support for each other to enhance their impact at home (as ambassadors, advocates and more) and abroad.
We don’t have the luxury of letting these radical changes paralyse us from action; instead, they must motivate and embolden us to build something new – something more inclusive, more collaborative and more impactful.
This is a time for us to come together, Shabaka invites all partners to work more closely with us to ensure the valuable work continues.
Useful links
The Change Fund: Bridge Funding Window — NEAR
