Following the abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign assistance, including the USAID funding, hundreds of projects now face uncertainty worldwide and in the Western Balkans. The three-month halt under President Trump’s Executive Order has stalled work by CSOs, independent media, and human rights initiatives, forcing many organizations to reduce staff or suspend activities. Programs supporting judicial reforms, anti-corruption efforts, and marginalized communities have frozen funds, raising serious concerns over the future sustainability of civil society work. These measures underscore the risk of a shrinking civic space and the potential lasting ripple effects on democratic resilience. In response, a coalition of civil society groups through a petition has urgently appealed to the philanthropic community for emergency support. They call for monitoring the impact of the executive order, targeted programming, flexible grants, and coordinated advocacy to mitigate negative impacts on women, LGBTI communities, human rights defenders, and other vulnerable groups.
Source: Balkan Insight/ change.org