Highlights:

• Major cuts to Official Development Assistance (ODA) are taking place in the United States of America (US), with the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This is expected to have major impacts on food security and nutrition worldwide.

• Decreases in ODA are also taking place in other OECD countries. Total ODA from OECD countries of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) declined by 7.1% in 2024, compared to 2023. It is pro-jected to decline by around 28% by 2026, compared with 2023.

• Based on the latest available data, cancelled USAID awards represent at least 86% of its pro-grammes. In monetary terms, based on fiscal year 2024 data, the cut is at least 38% of obligated funds.

• The US is the world’s largest ODA donor; in 2024, it contributed to 25% of total ODA. Food security was the sector with the highest funding, with over $4.6 bn.

• The areas most affected by USAID cuts in relative terms include education, private sector competitive-ness, conflict mitigation and reconciliation, and infrastructures.

• The sector of agriculture has experienced the highest cut in absolute terms and an 81% reduction. The area of “protection, assistance and solutions”, has the second largest cut in absolute terms but a lower relative share (13%).

• The nutrition sector will be cut by at least 39%. Other program areas related to HIV/AIDS and malaria will experience cuts estimated between 20 and 40%; maternal and child health by 92%.

• Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali will face funding cuts from the US ranging from 8% to 66% of their total funding for 2024. These countries are of highest concern for acute food insecurity, the main sector targeted by US support.

• Cuts threaten to reverse progress in data collection on health and food security by dismantling critical data infrastructure, compromising data quality, and impairing the ability to respond to crises.

• The shortfall of the US cannot be offset by other ODA donors, which shift their priorities from devel-opment aid towards strategic national interests, notably migration control and defence.

• The main recommendations from key players to address the current challenges include reducing the fragmentation of the ODA landscape; finding innovative, low cost and technology-based sources of data; enhancing ownership and leadership in development assistance by national states; and joining forces with private donors.