Go local – Trusting communities in an age of aid austerity
Go local – Trusting communities in an age of aid austerity
https://www.bond.org.uk/news/2025/11/go-local-trusting-communities-in-an-age-of-aid-austerity/
Media Source: Bond (UK)
Date: 21 November 2025
Funding is shrinking across the board: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA have all signalled slashes to their foreign aid budgets, putting up to $60 billion of official development assistance (ODA) – nearly a quarter of 2023 levels – at risk globally. However, a growing body of…
Funding is shrinking across the board: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA have all signalled slashes to their foreign aid budgets, putting up to $60 billion of official development assistance (ODA) – nearly a quarter of 2023 levels – at risk globally. However, a growing body of evidence supports long-term investments in health, education and livelihoods, delivered by and for communities – with support from local governments and private actors. When communities lead, development outcomes are stronger, fairer and more resilient. The Aga Khan Foundation supports successful local development initiatives across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For over 40 years, its Rural Support programme in Pakistan has helped establish village organisations where communities decide what they need most – better irrigation systems, schools, or a clinic, writes Matt Reeves, Global Lead for Civil Society, Aga Khan Foundation.