NGOs hit hard by US foreign aid policy shift
GEITA: NON-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Geita Region have been forced to lay off more than 50 per cent of their employees following recent shifts in US foreign aid policy.
The move comes after facing financial challenges since January 2025, when US President Donald Trump decided to halt more than 90 per cent of international funding channeled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
National Council of NGOs (NaCoNGO) Leader in Geita Region, Ms Paulina Majogoro, shared the report during the annual regional NGOs meeting.
Ms Majogoro said the challenge results from policy changes, economic crises, or shifts in donor priorities.
“Here in Geita, more than 10 projects have been affected, including the suspension of essential services such as the PEPFAR HIV prevention program, anti-malaria campaigns, and basic healthcare services,” she said.
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She explained that the situation has exposed a lack of alternative local funding sources, resulting in NGOs becoming overly dependent on external donors often leading to complete collapse when donor policies change.
The Planning and Coordination Administrative Officer, Mr Deusdedith Kayango, urged NGOs to focus on priority groups and projects to avoid misuse or unnecessary expenditure of donor funds.
Mr Kayango stressed that all NGOs are responsible for aligning with government priorities and implementing projects effectively so that their interventions can have a visible and direct impact on community well-being.
Earlier, Assistant Community Development Officer for Geita Region, Mr Martha Kaloso, said that the region currently has 70 NGOs operating across its five districts in various sectors, including education and health sector.
Mr Kaloso acknowledged that NGOs have significantly contributed to raising community awareness on environmental conservation, combating genderbased violence, and abandoning oppressive customs and traditions.
