A brief, current snapshot of the agency and its role in foreign aid
A Science study has found that large-scale, sudden cuts to USAID funding have correlated with a significant rise in conflict in Africa’s USAID-dependent regions. Researchers say the abrupt withdrawal disrupted contracts, staffing and procurement, and note the finding shows the effect of an unexpected disruption rather than that aid alone reduces conflict.
The Central African Republic has seen some signs of improvement as displacement slows and aid-funded activities resume. Yet funding for 2025 and 2026 remains critically short, raising the risk that gains will unravel. The UN and partners warn that continued shortfalls threaten life-saving relief for millions, with IDPs and refugees relying on fragile programmes to survive.
Kenya’s High Court has temporarily suspended the planned 50-bed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki as protests mount and scrutiny over the U.S.-Kenya deal intensifies amid a regional Bundibugyo outbreak.
Protests have erupted in Nanyuki after Kenya has allowed construction of a US-backed 50‑bed Ebola quarantine unit at Laikipia Air Base. Police have used tear gas and gunfire has killed at least two people; a 17‑year‑old protester has reportedly died with dispute over whether a tear‑gas canister or a bullet caused his death. Flights and equipment for the centre have continued despite court orders.
Human Rights Watch says US health aid deals with several African states condition aid on data access and pathogen sharing. Leaked documents show agreements in seven countries, amid broader US aid cuts that have disrupted health programs and may threaten outbreak response.
UNRWA has dismissed staff in Gaza citing safety concerns, while insisting the moves are not disciplinary and that Israel has not provided evidence of staff links to Hamas. USAID OIG has referred over 100 UNRWA employees for suspension or debarment over alleged Hamas affiliations. The actions follow years of accusations about UNRWA staff and operations in Gaza.
Analysts say sovereign-rating rules inflate the perceived risk of African renewable-energy projects, raising borrowing costs and slowing electrification across the continent. Only Botswana and Mauritius hold investment-grade ratings, hindering investment in projects such as Kenya’s Menengai Geothermal and Nigeria’s Solar IPP pipeline. Donor collaborations like Mission 300 are expanding access, but financing remains expensive and fragmented.
The United States has begun a phased drawdown of PEPFAR in South Africa, citing policy disagreements and a belief that South Africa can sustain its HIV programs. Pretoria says it will continue treatment with domestic funding, while UN meetings seek clarity on future donor support.
Pope Leo has urged governments to boost funding and cut bureaucratic barriers to fight hunger, calling access to food a fundamental human right. He warns conflicts and funding shortfalls threaten global food security, stresses WFP's work, and highlights efforts to reach millions with meals and nutrition programs.
The Independent has documented a surge in LGBTQ+-targeted violence in Nigeria, where gangs entrap, extort, and torture individuals on camera for ransom. As aid cuts bite, clinics and shelters are collapsing, threatening life-saving HIV treatment for survivors. The documentary features testimonies from survivors and advocates, highlighting a humanitarian crisis intensified by policy shifts.
The United States has mobilized disaster relief for Venezuela after 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck near Caracas. Washington has dispatched a disaster assistance team and pledged $150 million, while other nations offer help. The earthquakes have caused severe damage and casualties, prompting international calls for rapid humanitarian response.
Vance and Rubio are positioning themselves on Iran and Lebanon as White House and State Department deny any rift. Delegations led by Vance and Rubio have shaped recent talks with Iran, with a fragile ceasefire framework under close U.S. oversight.
Health authorities have reported at least 1,759 confirmed Ebola cases and about 600 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since mid-May, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain. The World Health Organization has enrolled the first patient in a trial testing MBP134 and remdesivir; treatment centres are strained and insecurity and funding shortfalls are hindering response.
The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has intensified, with cases rising and deaths increasing. Health workers are striking over unpaid salaries, while international partners warn the official figures may undercount the true toll. Trials for treatments have begun, and vaccination efforts remain limited by the absence of a vaccine for this strain.
Funding for HIV programs has declined sharply, pressuring prevention and community health services while treatment remains more stable. US policy changes and broader donor pullbacks have led to thousands of clinic closures and tens of thousands of job losses, with warnings of longer-term risks to the epidemic.
Donor contributions to HIV programmes have declined, with the 2025 funding level the lowest since 2007. The US remains the largest donor but has reduced its support, while total resources for HIV response have fallen 18% across all sources. UNAIDS warns that declining funding could jeopardise gains in prevention and treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Uganda has declared the end of its 2026 Ebola outbreak after completing a 42‑day monitoring period. Twenty confirmed cases were recorded, 18 recovered and two deaths, with most cases linked to Congo’s outbreak. Authorities say there is no evidence of further transmission and the Bundibugyo strain remains without a vaccine or treatment.
The Government Accountability Office has reviewed DOGE’s Wall of Receipts and found many savings claims lack supporting evidence, including 108 of 264 lease-terminations that were already in process before DOGE’s formation, and $1.7 billion in claimed savings on a DoD contract that were not realized. The watchdog urges clearer disclosure of data quality and methodology.