Basita Michael | Saturday 8 February, 2025 | Independent News Commentaries | Freetown. Sierra Leone.
I am not a fan of Donald Trump, nor do I endorse his actions. However, it is troubling that so many view the future without USAID as an outright catastrophe when, in reality, it could be a turning point for real, lasting change.
Undoubtedly, the gutting of USAID will bring hardship to many disadvantaged nations. Yet, while this reality is undeniable, we must resist the temptation to see it solely through a lens of despair.
Foreign aid—whether from the U.S. or elsewhere—has long been a double-edged sword. While it has provided life-saving resources, it has also fueled corruption and entrenched bad governance. History has shown that many recipient governments misuse these funds, enriching themselves and their inner circles rather than serving their people. Some civil society organizations, rather than uplifting their communities, have exploited aid for personal gain.
Worse still, aid has often been wielded as a tool to legitimize oppressive policies. Many civil society groups, instead of challenging bad governance, have used donor funds to conduct performative consultations, rubber-stamping laws that entrench inequality, marginalization, and repression. For every dollar that has gone toward improving lives, another has been lost to waste, inefficiency, and manipulation.
This is why the end of U.S. aid, while painful, presents an opportunity.
First, without the crutch of foreign aid, governments will be forced to take full ownership of their democracies. Leaders who once relied on external funds to mask their inefficiencies will now be exposed, making it harder for them to cling to power without delivering tangible benefits to their citizens.
Second, this shift will serve as a test of integrity for civil society. Organizations that are truly committed to justice, human rights, and development will persevere, while those built solely for financial gain will disappear. This could foster a more transparent and genuine advocacy space.
If nations seize this moment, it could mark the beginning of a new era—one not propped up by foreign aid or America’s “goodwill,” but built on resilience, sovereignty, and self-reliance.
Rather than fearing a future without USAID, we should embrace it as an opportunity to redefine governance, development, and democracy on our own terms.
