The three-month pause in foreign aid imposed by the new US administration has left the future of numerous civil society, human rights and independent media projects in the Western Balkans in limbo.
From 2020 until the end of 2024, the United States invested US $1.7 billion in aid in the Western Balkans Six, supporting civil society organisations and state institutions and projects ranging from human rights and media to energy efficiency.
Many of the organisations in these countries have been officially notified that all projects have been halted for three months until the evaluation period is over.
“The expenses we had until January 27 will be eligible to be covered from the project money, while everything after that has to be stopped,” the editor of a small investigative media outlet from Sarajevo, Bosnia told BIRN on condition of anonymity.
“The blockade will also mean that we will have to fire one of the journalists, while the remaining three will work for 60 per cent of their original pay cheque,” he added. He said they are not certain what will happen after the 90-day revision.
Exact number of projects affected unknown
While the US has supported thousands of activities in the Western Balkans Six, the precise number of affected projects is still unknown.
BIRN contacted local USAID offices in all six countries, but all of them redirected the question to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, which responded by sending a link to its press release.
“President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people. Reviewing and realigning foreign assistance on behalf of hardworking taxpayers is not just the right thing to do, it is a moral imperative,” USAID said.
While many are reluctant to speak openly, a source working with USAID told BIRN that it is “likely that programmes aimed at LGBTI rights or feminist organisations will definitely be stopped” after the evaluation period.
The same source added that those employed by USAID and other organisations financed by the State Department have been notified that they will continue being paid for the next three months but are not allowed to work on any activities with grantees.
US embassies redirect queries to White House
Following Trump’s executive order halting US aid for 90 days, the US embassy in North Macedonia declined to comment or answer media inquiries, including inquiries from BIRN, about the amount of aid money in question and details about the frozen funds, saying that answers should be sought from the White House.
Most US aid in North Macedonia goes through USAID, with the rest of the projects being funded through the International Republican Institute, IRI, and the National Democratic Institute, NDI.
Available data from the USAID website show that more than $72 million allocated for 22 ongoing projects in North Macedonia are now on hold. These include projects related to reducing corruption, improving economic competitiveness, increasing the public’s social engagement, various projects tackling youth, as well as projects designed to help local municipalities and authorities.
The total sum involved is even greater, as USAID also funds six regional projects in the Balkans that include North Macedonia, worth some $140 million in total. Sources from the NGO sector in North Macedonia told BIRN that they are uncertain about the final outcome.
“We cannot comment yet as some things are still not clear to us. But we are worried. We still don’t know for sure if these funds are halted just temporarily, until the evaluation is done, or is this just a soft way of cutting these funds permanently,” the head of one Skopje-based NGO told BIRN on condition of anonymity.
According to this source, all US-funded projects in North Macedonia are currently on hold, and payments for ongoing projects are made only for work done until January 27. All costs beyond this date hang in the balance.
Support to state institutions also blocked
The US embassy in Tirana on Wednesday confirmed to local media that funds for Albanian institutions and organisations have been paused for three months.
In a letter sent to the Albanian Foreign Ministry, the US embassy said that it “wishes to inform the Government of the Republic of Albania of the intent of the US Executive Order to pause implementation, new obligations, and disbursements of funds pending a review of all foreign assistance programs. Program partners and implementers of U.S funded assistance programs in Albania are being notified of this action.”
The letter mentions at least 30 institutions. They include courts, prosecutor’s offices and the ministries of Defence, Education and Sports, and Finance.
Iris Luarasi, a professor at Tirana University who leads an organisation focusing on domestic violence and women’s rights, called Counselling Line, told BIRN that the US decision “to freeze funding for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) programmes has implications for civil society organisations, especially for communities in need and in our specific case for women victims of domestic violence.
“This decision presents major challenges for many civil society organisations but also highlights the continued importance of the work of civil society organisations in the protection of human rights,” Luarasi said.
“If these funds are eventually cut, it will be troubling and impactful to marginalised communities, where women often face the greatest barriers to accessing aid. DEI programs have been very important in addressing these disparities, and their loss could further deepen the gap in services,” she added.
Source: Balkan Insight
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