In response to the freeze on US aid decreed by the Trump administration, Norway has allocated 162 million euros to support six humanitarian NGOs.
This initiative aims to fill the financial gap left by the US withdrawal, ensuring the continuity of essential assistance programs.
The sudden withdrawal of USAID has created a significant financial gap for many humanitarian organizations.
Norway’s intervention, while praised for its generosity, raises questions about the sustainability of such solutions. Relying on the goodwill of a few nations to compensate for major withdrawals exposes humanitarian programs to chronic financial instability. What’s more, this approach can lead to a concentration of funding, limiting the diversity of sources and increasing the risk of further disengagement, note the experts.
Humanitarian aid and state disempowerment
Specialists point out that the influx of international aid can, paradoxically, encourage certain governments to offload their responsibilities towards their populations.
By relying on NGOs and foreign funding to provide basic services, these states can neglect the development of their own infrastructures and support systems.
This dependence on external aid can perpetuate a vicious circle in which governments remain passive, knowing that the international community will intervene in the event of a crisis, they conclude.
Flory Musiswa