Additional Context: This quote was collected by the Afghan Analysts Network and attributed to a senior manager of an international NGO who had to lay off 60% of staff across 15 provinces as a result of U.S. aid cuts. The organization had depended on USAID for most of their budget — around $35 million.

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 aid workers ultimately choose to volunteer or take pay cuts rather than lose their job entirely. Medical services have been especially affected across Afghanistan, with the Health Cluster reporting the closure or suspension of 445 clinics by December 2025 as a direct result of cuts to USAID-supported services, affecting a total of 31 implementing partners. 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