When the U.S. government moved to terminate thousands of foreign aid programs earlier this year, Mercy Corps, like many implementers, was forced to stop dozens of critical interventions. Among them were two water and sanitation programs — one in Nigeria, the other in Afghanistan — that had been poised to reach tens of thousands of people. Both projects were suddenly without funding, halted just short of delivery.
What followed is a rare window into how a major NGO managed to quickly raise flexible funds, mobilize new donor relationships, and keep vital work from collapsing.
In northeastern Nigeria, Mercy Corps had been preparing to launch final-phase upgrades to water systems across 13 conflict-affected sites in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. Solar panels were ready for installation. Supply lines had been scoped. “The hardest part was done,” said Mary Stata, the organization’s chief development officer. “What remained were the final steps: installing solar components, making minor repairs, and activating the supply.”