U.S. President Donald Trump, immediately after taking office, signed an order to suspend foreign aid from the U.S. government for 90 days.  This particularly affected USAID, which came under aggressive attacks from Trump and his administration.

This global organization assists in addressing acute social issues in various corners of the world, including in Tajikistan.

Tajik political scientist Muhammad Shansuddinov says its closure would seriously impact the development of our country and the well-being of our society.

The organization's contribution to the development of Tajikistan

USAID is one of the main donors of humanitarian aid to Tajikistan.

According to the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, Manuel Micaller, over the past 30 years, the United States has provided more than US$2 billion in aid to Tajikistan, most of which comes through USAID.

For example, in 2023 (US$13 million) and 2024 (US$7 million), USAID provided the UN World Food Program (WFP) with US$20 million to increase assistance to vulnerable households facing the growing issue of food insecurity in Tajikistan.

In the field of agricultural development, through the "Food for the Future" program, USAID helped farmers switch to healthy nutrition and increase the production of nutritious crops, including by providing access to 39 new varieties of fruit from the U.S. to rejuvenate their orchards and enter more profitable markets.

After the transition to a market economy, as a result of cooperation between USAID and the government of Tajikistan, more than 120,000 farmers gained secure access to land and water.

In the energy sector—one of the most important areas for the country's development—USAID is assisting Tajikistan in implementing renewable energy sources and increasing the technical potential of Tajik energy companies.

For instance,  in August 2023, USAID partnered with Pamir Energy Company (PE) to improve the quality of life of the resident of Murgab district in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) by providing access to sustainable and reliable sources of energy by upgrading the capacity of a previously USAID-funded solar power plant (SPP) from 200 kW to 800 kW, with 1.2 MWh of battery storage capacity.

In the field of healthcare, USAID collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan.  Thanks to The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), from 2003 to 2021, Tajikistan received nearly US$38 million to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

USAID's support in maternal, child health, and nutrition has helped reduce the level of malnutrition among children under five—from 25% to 18%.

Thanks to this organization, the level of acute malnutrition has decreased—from 11% to 6% in target areas; and infant mortality has fallen from 33 to 27 per 1,000 live births.  USAID supports Tajikistan in implementing the National Tuberculosis Control Program, ensuring more effective and accessible prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

During COVID-19, USAID provided over US$10.2 million to support Tajikistan’s response to the pandemic.  The U.S. government, through USAID, donated more than 1.8 million doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to Tajikistan.

The funds were also allocated to raise awareness through community participation, create employment opportunities for displaced workers, and deliver food to the most vulnerable populations.

In the field of education, from 2002 to 2021, the organization provided Tajikistan with around US$60 million for development.  In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, USAID donated 1.3 million books to nearly 80% of schools across the country.  These measures contributed to improving reading and fluency skills among 4th-grade students by over 22%.

USAID promoted the rights of Tajik migrants, raising awareness about safe migration through radio programs and video lessons.  Through its hotline service, USAID provided legal and psychological consultations to 62,650 citizens of Tajikistan.

"The Face of America" and the consequences for Tajikistan

The above-mentioned programs show how nearly all sectors of Tajik society depend on the aid provided by this organization and the impact of its activities.  The suspension of these programs is already affecting the lives of thousands of people in Tajikistan.

The closure could harm the well-being of thousands of households receiving assistance from the agency, businesses supported by this organization in their development, and farmers whose activities depend on the country's economy and the well-being of society.

The cessation of aid would harm public health, affect the quality of education, and hinder the development of energy potential and the transition to a green economy.

For example, the Ministry of Health has already stated that it is facing problems after the suspension of USAID’s activities and is seeking funding for programs previously supported by the agency.

The same situation is now affecting many government bodies and international organizations providing assistance to Tajikistan.

Thus, the current situation regarding the suspension of USAID's activities is not in the best interest of our society's development. For us, the organization's assistance in solving social problems, improving the quality of life, and comprehensive development of society is necessary.

It is essential for the farmer from the mountain region, for the tuberculosis patient, and for the aspiring entrepreneur.  They do not care about the politicization of the organization's activities; they care about their well-being, and USAID contributes to that.

Recently, the Federal District Court of Columbia prohibited the Trump administration from halting funding for projects that had already been approved. It is unclear how the "confrontation" between the judicial and executive branches of the U.S. will end, but it shows that not everyone in the United States agrees with the new government's decision to reduce international aid.