The Fallout of Aid Cuts: How the End of ODA Will Affect Progress and Momentum

​The collapse of overseas development assistance (ODA), including the freezing of USAID funding and drastic cuts from the UK and other donors, is threatening the progress and momentum of global development efforts. Civil society organizations (CSOs), humanitarian initiatives, and gender equity programs face severe disruptions, with decades of hard-won gains at risk. This session will explore the real-world consequences of these cuts: How are CSOs and frontline organizations adapting? Can alternative financing models replace lost aid, or are we facing an irreversible decline in development progress?

We will also examine the gendered impact of these funding losses—how do we prevent backsliding in education, health, and economic opportunities for women and girls? What structural changes must occur to ensure that development efforts continue, even as traditional donors retreat? This discussion will focus on the urgent need for adaptation, resilience, and innovative funding solutions to sustain progress in a post-ODA world.

Key Questions:

• ​What are the immediate and long-term consequences of ODA cuts on global development, humanitarian work, and gender equity?

• ​How are CSOs adapting to the new funding landscape, including potential mergers and alternative financing strategies?

• ​Can philanthropy, blended finance, or private-sector engagement effectively fill the gap left by shrinking foreign aid?

• ​How can we prevent setbacks in women’s rights, education, and healthcare that rely heavily on ODA funding?

• ​What shifts are needed in development financing and governance to build more resilient, locally-driven funding models?

​This session will serve as a space for collaboration and strategic thinking on how to maintain global progress and momentum despite the dramatic reduction in foreign aid.

​Session Co-Leaders:

• ​Aissetou Sawadogo – Executive Director at Nuru Burkina Faso, leading initiatives that promote climate resilience, financial inclusion, and social behavior change to empower rural communities.

• ​Blair Glencorse – Co-CEO of Accountability Lab, an activist and expert on global issues of accountability and governance.

• ​Esther Wang – Management Advisor at The Elevate Prize Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs to maximize impact.

• ​Jenna Hornsby – Manager of Philanthropic Partnerships at RefugePoint, working to develop durable solutions for displaced refugees, including self-reliance programs and resettlement opportunities.