Beyond USAID: A sustainable solution

Over the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of heading the Glocal Program for International Development, an international MA Program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. During this time, we have hosted hundreds of students from around the world and provided them with tools to work directly with disadvantaged communities and co-develop sustainable, positive interventions to improve lives. Through these efforts, they have helped empower communities in need, fostering development and contributing to a better world.

Through my work at Glocal, I have witnessed firsthand the complexities and challenges of international development. This perspective makes it even more concerning when large-scale interventions, such as USAID, face abrupt changes that disrupt essential services.

In its first week, the Trump Administration swiftly suspended all USAID activities worldwide. This decision was accompanied by harsh and unfounded accusations against USAID on Trump’s and Musk’s social media platforms.

The impact on global aid

This unprecedented and unilateral act has caused chaos in the realm of international development. Since its establishment in the 1960s, USAID has played a significant, reliable, albeit bureaucratic, role in humanitarian aid and international development. Beyond directly or indirectly employing some 18,000 U.S. citizens worldwide, USAID provides some $40-$70 billion in development assistance and humanitarian aid in over 120 countries.

This funding supports emergency response efforts in times of conflict or natural disasters, as well as long-term development goals, such as the provision of education, strengthening healthcare systems, supporting small and medium enterprises, and boosting cross-community collaboration, such as business initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians. These programs, run by partner organizations and NGOs, were abruptly suspended, often in violation of local laws that require significant compensation for contract termination. It is estimated that at least 100,000 employees of these organizations worldwide have been affected.

While no final decision has been made on the future of USAID, it is clear that the latest steps will have detrimental impact. Beyond the short-term suffering of those now deprived of essential healthcare, food, and shelter, the decision has created a widening gap in international development. Who will step in to support smallholder farmers? Who will provide medications for acute health conditions? And who will help civil society organizations build capacity to serve vulnerable populations in countries where governments fail to do so?

Rethinking the role of aid

This act is an opportunity for reflection. Is international aid necessary? And does it effectively achieve its intended goals? USAID was established following the Marshall Plan (1948), with the aim of “partnering to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity”. Over the years, the U.S. has utilized USAID funding to advance its own political and economic interests, much like all other donor countries. While many advancements have been made in human development since the 1960s, the “aid industry” hasn’t reached its goal of eliminating poverty. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set in 2015, are unlikely to be met by 2030. In fact, global inequality is increasing, and many developing countries are struggling to bridge the technological gap. While some countries, like Cambodia and Vietnam, have leveraged low-tech manufacturing as a steppingstone to further industrialization, others, especially those affected by conflict and climate change, increasingly struggle to make such advancements. Some critics argue that foreign aid can perpetuate poverty by strengthening corrupt governments and making long-term economic planning nearly impossible for developing countries.

And yet, does this mean that aid is unnecessary? The economic and social needs in developing communities remain real and pressing. Moreover, today’s global inequalities are, in part, an outcome of industrialization based on resource extraction and exploitation of the previously colonized countries, compounded by unequal trade policies which developing countries are often forced to accept.

A localized approach to development

How can this contradiction be addressed? At the interdisciplinary Glocal Program for International Development, we advocate for a development approach centered on local assets. The Program trains students to design initiatives that leverage the skills and resources of local communities. This ensures that development programs align with local realities, strengthen community ownership, and diversify income sources – critical for long-term sustainability, especially considering aid volatility.

While local solutions cannot fully replace USAID’s $40+ billion budget, empowering communities and fostering self-reliance might eventually reduce dependence on international aid.

To learn more about the Glocal Program and the field of international development, visit glocal.huji.ac.il. You can also click here to register for one of Hebrew University’s upcoming Digital Open Days for international degrees.