Analysis of the Global Effects After the Closure of USAID

May 14, 2026, 18:42
AfricaInternational

Introduction

The closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2025 and the reduction of foreign aid have led to increased instability in several regions and a decline in human rights protections worldwide.

Main Body

The Trump administration closed USAID through executive orders, claiming that these steps were necessary to stop financial waste. This decision led to the cancellation of over 90% of the agency's contracts, which resulted in a budget cut of approximately $60 billion. Consequently, the sudden withdrawal of funds disrupted staffing, supply chains, and existing legal agreements. In Africa, a study in the journal Science found a link between the sudden loss of USAID resources and a rise in violence in regions that relied on this aid. While researchers emphasize that this does not prove that aid alone prevents conflict, they argue that the unexpected loss of support makes fragile areas less stable. For example, in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Ivory Coast, USAID had previously funded programs to fight extremism and help with humanitarian recovery. Furthermore, analysts from ACLED suggest that the lack of these programs may have allowed insurgencies to spread. At the same time, global human rights efforts have suffered. Human Rights Watch reports that the loss of U.S. funding—which was the main source of support—has made it harder to document abuses and protect people in 16 countries, including Ukraine and Venezuela. In the Philippines, the end of funding led to the cancellation of projects that supported journalists and environmental activists. Additionally, some Asian media reports indicate that the closure was accompanied by false information claiming that USAID was simply a tool for U.S. political interference.

Conclusion

The dissolution of USAID has caused a clear decrease in global stability and human rights monitoring, creating a gap in both professional expertise and financial support.

Learning

⚡️ THE POWER OF 'CAUSAL CONNECTORS'

To move from A2 (basic sentences) to B2 (complex arguments), you must stop using 'and' or 'so' for everything. The text uses Cause-and-Effect logic, which is the heartbeat of B2 academic English.

🧩 The Upgrade Path

Look at how the text transforms a simple idea into a professional one:

  • A2 Style: The budget was cut. So, staffing was disrupted.
  • B2 Style: "Consequently, the sudden withdrawal of funds disrupted staffing..."

🛠 The B2 Toolkit from the Text

The ConnectorHow it worksText Example
ConsequentlyUse this instead of 'so' to sound more formal."Consequently, the sudden withdrawal..."
Led toUse this as a verb to show one thing caused another."...led to increased instability"
Due to / Resulted inGreat for showing the end-product of an action."...which resulted in a budget cut"

💡 Pro Tip: The 'Linking' Mindset

B2 speakers don't just list facts; they build a chain.

Try this logic chain: Action →\rightarrow Connector →\rightarrow Effect →\rightarrow Further Result

Example: The agency closed →\rightarrow leading to a loss of funds →\rightarrow consequently, instability rose.

🔍 Vocabulary Spotlight: "Fragile"

In A2, you might say 'weak' or 'bad'. In B2, we use 'fragile' to describe a situation that is likely to break or fail (like a 'fragile area'). It is a precise, descriptive word that changes the tone of your writing from 'simple' to 'analytical'.

Vocabulary Learning

closure (n.)
The act of shutting down or ending an organization, facility, or operation.
Example:The sudden closure of the factory left many workers unemployed.
instability (n.)
A state of being unstable; lack of steady or predictable conditions.
Example:Political instability in the region has caused frequent protests.
executive orders (n.)
Directives issued by a head of state to manage operations within the government.
Example:The president issued several executive orders to streamline the process.
cancellation (n.)
The act of stopping or calling off something that was planned.
Example:The cancellation of the conference disappointed many participants.
budget cut (n.)
A reduction in the amount of money allocated for a program or department.
Example:The new budget cut will reduce the number of staff by ten percent.
staffing (n.)
The people employed to perform work in an organization.
Example:Staffing the new office required hiring experienced professionals.
supply chains (n.)
Networks of suppliers that provide goods and services to a business.
Example:Supply chains for electronics were disrupted by the trade war.
legal agreements (n.)
Contracts or arrangements that are enforceable by law.
Example:Legal agreements must be signed before the project can start.
extremism (n.)
Radical or extreme political or religious views that reject compromise.
Example:Government campaigns aim to counter extremism among youth.
insurgencies (n.)
Rebellions or uprisings against an established authority.
Example:Insurgencies in the north have escalated after the ceasefire ended.
efforts (n.)
Actions taken to achieve a particular goal.
Example:International efforts to reduce poverty have shown modest results.
monitoring (n.)
The process of observing or checking something regularly.
Example:Monitoring of the environment helps detect pollution early.