A senior human resources officer on a U.S.-funded agricultural project laid off in May 2025 expressed sadness and worry about the difficulties he would have covering rent and household expenses. He lamented that he would no longer be able to send money to his younger brother studying in Russia.
Date: 5/25
Region: Europe & Central Asia
Country: Afghanistan
Topic: Economy & Livelihoods
Policy Lens: Economic & Trade Interests
Entry Type: Field Observation
Additional Context: This testimonial was collected by the Afghan Analysts Network. According to this human resources officer, only two of 160 employees kept their jobs after a USAID-funded project was terminated.
Devex Researcher Note: A major driver of insecurity and anxiety for aid workers, the mass NGO layoffs in Afghanistan that have resulted from the aid disruptions have been compounded by the lack of other job opportunities. Many of these aid workers are the primary breadwinners of their families. The resulting impact on livelihoods and employment opportunities has been well documented in a recent report by the United Nations Development Programme that mentions the need for livelihoods and employment support increasing by 17 percentage points in 2025 relative to the previous year as the withdrawal of aid meets severe drought and a growing influx of returnees.
Source: Afghan Analysts Network