Earlier this year, shortly after taking office, President Trump initiated the dismantling of USAID. This brought an end to funding for many humanitarian organisations worldwide. Two ZOA projects* were directly impacted by this decision, one of which was based in Colombia.
Without the support from USAID, it proved impossible to continue our operations in Colombia. The timing of the USAID withdrawal coincided with the expiration of contracts with other donors, which were not renewed. This reflects a broader global trend: a growing number of governments are cutting back on international development funding, prioritising domestic spending and national interests instead.