The recent executive order halting all US foreign assistance programmes has led to an immediate pause on new spending and the suspension and termination of existing grants and contracts. This includes GNDR’s USAID-funded Locally-Led Humanitarian Solutions (LLHS) programme, which supports local organisations in fragile states to build resilience in communities at risk of disasters – this programme, we learnt on 25 February, has been terminated.
GNDR regrets the United States of America’s withdrawal of foreign aid and is surprised and disappointed by the process. This decision has increased the vulnerability of those living on the frontline of disasters, undermining efforts to build resilience through locally-led initiatives. We hope the United States will reaffirm its global leadership by continuing to invest in strategic projects that advance localisation, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and strengthen community resilience worldwide.
The halt in funding comes at a critical time, as disaster risks are escalating globally. Communities already facing frequent and severe hazards now face even greater challenges without essential support. This decision threatens years of progress in disaster preparedness, particularly in fragile contexts where locally led initiatives play a vital role.
GNDR has consistently championed localisation – shifting power and resources to those most at risk – and we remain committed to ensuring that local voices shape the decisions that impact their futures. The LLHS programme, like many others, embodies this approach by empowering local civil society organisations (CSOs) to lead humanitarian, development and peacebuilding action. The termination of LLHS means this progress will be lost, placing communities and organisations facing extreme vulnerabilities under significant strain.
USAID has been a world leader in localisation, and stepping back from this role will have immediate and concerning consequences. The loss of funding does not only affect organisations like GNDR and our members but also other institutional donors who rely on local CSOs as key partners. The expertise, knowledge, and experience of these organisations are indispensable for shaping effective policies and practices to reduce disaster vulnerability.
We stand in solidarity with our members and partners worldwide, who continue to demonstrate resilience despite these challenges. Resuming aid is not just a matter of policy – it is a matter of justice and solidarity with those most at risk. GNDR urges the United States to reconsider its decision and uphold its commitment to disaster risk reduction through continued support for locally led initiatives.
We also call on the international community – including governments, institutional donors, philanthropic organisations and the private sector – to step in and fill the gap left by this policy shift. Now more than ever, we need predictable, long-term funding mechanisms that prioritise locally-led solutions. Disaster resilience is not just about aid; it is a legal and moral obligation embedded in international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework. This is not charity – it is about upholding commitments to global security, sustainable development, and the shared responsibility of addressing the most pressing challenges of our time.
As the world’s largest network of civil society organisations working on disaster risk reduction, GNDR remains resolute. As regional representatives on GNDR’s global board, and as a network as a whole, we stand in solidarity with our colleagues across the world and remain committed to advocating for locally led action and standing alongside our members to reduce disaster risk and build a safer, more resilient world.
-ends-
Signed by GNDR’s Global Board
Ghada Ahmadein – North Africa & West Asia Regional Representative; Program Manager, Arab Network for Environment and Development
Grace Ananda – Eastern Africa Regional Representative; Policy and Advocacy Manager, Africa Area Office, Habitat for Humanity International
Eena Geslaine Barrun – South East Asia & East Asia Regional Representative; Program Co-ordinator, Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Inc.
Diana Carolina Caicedo Enriquez – South America Regional Representative; Coordinator of Inter-Institutional Relations, Nariño Joven
Peter Curran – Independent Board Member, Director & Principal Consultant, Explorer Consulting Limited
Mario Flores – North America Regional Representative; Director, Field Operations, Disaster Risk Reduction and Response, Habitat for Humanity International
Breny Herrera – Central America Regional Representative; Executive Director, Institute for Women’s Research, Training and Development, IMU El Salvado
Tolekan Ismailova – Vice Chair of the Global Board, Central Asia Regional Representative; Director, Human Rights Movement “Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan”
Jana Junghardt – Europe Regional Representative; Advisor Disaster Risk Management / Core Group Member, DRR Platform
Khurram Shahid Malik – Pacific Regional Representative; Founder and board member Humanitarian Organization for Poverty Eradication, Hope Worldwide-Pakistan (HOPE)
Lorenzo Mota King – Caribbean Regional Representative; Executive Director, Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas
Emmanuel S. Seck – Chair of the Global Board & West & Central Africa Regional Representative; Executive Director, ENDA Energie
Tasneem Siddiqui – South Asia Regional Representative; Chair and Founder, Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), University of Dhaka
Baimba Handel Si-Diakay Sisay – Vice Chair of the Global Board, Southern Africa Regional Representative; Executive Director of EGAN
Ewout van den Blink – Chair of the trustees; Management Consultant, Eiffel B.V.