The dismantling of USAID has sent shock waves through the global aid world. The funding freeze on U.S. aid, which in the 2023 fiscal year amounted to $72 billion in assistance worldwide, has left organizations wondering how to continue their important work of supporting some of the world’s most vulnerable. As Elon Musk smugly posted on his social media platform X: “Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” organizations scrambled to understand how they would pay their staff members, fill orders for lifesaving medications, or even survive past 90 days.

While legal action and political backlash in the United States offer some hope that the funds may resume, the limbo is already having huge negative effects on those who worked for, or were recipients of, U.S. aid assistance. And for those of us in the climate and/or diversity, equity, and inclusion space, we are left wondering if these projects will ever be funded again.

At Climate-KIC, we’ve been speaking with our partners across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia who work on climate entrepreneurship and with diverse entrepreneurs, to understand the current and longer-term impact this freeze will have.

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