A senior manager of an NGO working in Nangrahar province, Afghanistan said of the U.S. aid cuts: “It’s been difficult for me and my family because, living in Kabul with no other source of income, we relied on that salary. It’s like blood in the veins. So, when that stops, life stops. From the very beginning, I understood that depending on a salary had these problems. One of my sons does work in the government, and we now rely on his salary and my savings. To be honest, it’s changed many things in practice. We’ve moved to a cheaper house – the rent is lower and so is the standard. I’ve also moved my younger sons and daughters from one private school to another with lower fees.”
Date: 5/25
Region: Europe & Central Asia
Country: Afghanistan
Topic: Economy & Livelihoods
Policy Lens: Economic & Trade Interests
Entry Type: Field Observation
Additional Context: This quote was collected by the Afghan Analysts Network, and attributed to a senior manager of an international NGO whose organization was affected by U.S. aid cuts.
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. 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