Ukraine grapples with the suspension of USAID funding, which has been a critical support system amidst ongoing conflict. Over the past three years, Ukraine has received $37.6 billion in humanitarian aid, development assistance, and direct budget support, positioning it as the largest recipient of USAID funds. The United States remains Ukraine's most significant donor, contributing more than a quarter of all the humanitarian aid the country receives. However, the recent halt in funding has left numerous projects and organizations in limbo.
The Veteran Hub, a prominent Ukrainian non-governmental organization, has been particularly affected by the funding freeze. The organization relied on USAID for over half of its financial resources to support various services, including a crucial helpline. The sudden stop-work order forced them to suspend services relying solely on USAID funds. Through intense fundraising efforts, the Veteran Hub managed to secure enough resources to keep the helpline operational for three months, reinstating 14 employees temporarily.
“Just a few days before the freeze, we had a request from a person who declared a suicide attempt and was seeking support, and we were able to provide that support,” – Ivona Kostyna
This abrupt funding cut has placed significant pressure on services that provide mental health support to veterans and civilians alike. Ivona Kostyna expressed concern about unanswered calls, highlighting the potential risks involved.
“We don’t know how many of those (unanswered) calls were of that nature,” – Ivona Kostyna
The freeze has impacted other critical sectors as well. Ukraine, which has the highest prevalence of HIV in Europe and one of the highest rates outside Africa, relies heavily on foreign aid for healthcare services. Doctors and healthcare professionals funded by USAID have been instrumental in setting up diagnostic clinics and distributing free medicines across the country. However, the halt in funding has disrupted these life-saving activities.
Olena Goriacheva, another key figure in Ukraine's healthcare response, emphasized the need for diversified funding sources to sustain essential services.
“We realized (then) that it is impossible to have only one donor for the organization to exist and we tried to have diversified sources of funding – thank God that we still have that,” – Olena Goriacheva
The disruption caused by the funding freeze extends beyond healthcare. In the rural community of Shevchenkove, located in the Mykolaiv region of southern Ukraine, the war has already taken a significant toll. The local administration head, Oleh Pylypenko, was detained by Russian forces, exacerbating the challenges faced by the community. The training programs provided by USAID were crucial for rebuilding efforts in such areas. Pylypenko voiced his concerns about losing access to these programs due to the funding suspension.
The sudden stop-work order not only affected healthcare and community rebuilding projects but also resulted in job losses. Organizations were forced to let go of experienced project coordinators due to the lack of funds, impacting continuity and efficiency.
“I’m losing qualified people, with a lot of experience,” – Olena Goriacheva
The loss of skilled personnel further complicates Ukraine's ability to maintain critical services. Goriacheva highlighted the importance of continuity in these roles, as rebuilding after losing trained staff is both time-consuming and costly.
“So not only would we lose that person but, if the funding comes back, we’d have to rebuild, and we would lose six months training the next person. This is why continuity is so important,” – Ivona Kostyna
Despite these challenges, there is hope among those involved in these initiatives. Goriacheva recounted how taxi drivers have become unexpected allies in providing support during this crisis.
“We now have taxi drivers bringing people in when they’re in distress. So they would sit in a taxi, share their story, and the taxi driver would (make a detour) and bring them to us… they do this regularly,” – Olena Goriacheva
The government's focus on military funding has inadvertently left gaps in civilian support services that are now facing strain due to reduced aid.
“These are areas that the government cannot provide for because the government doesn’t have enough money because the government is funding the army,” – Ivona Kostyna
In response to these challenges, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced efforts to seek alternative sources of funding both domestically and internationally. The government's proactive approach aims to minimize disruptions caused by USAID's funding suspension.
