The entire development industry was shaken last year by the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, alongside a drop in official development assistance from other big donors.
Thousands of USAID staff were laid off, and an estimated 2,500 jobs were cut across Geneva-based organizations, with further layoffs expected this year, including at the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization, which is set to reduce its workforce by 25%.
The ripple effects of the aid cuts are being felt in development academia. While some professionals displaced by last year’s layoffs are turning to teaching roles, universities are facing budgetary pressures, and some are already seeing declining interest in traditional development courses as young professionals question their career prospects in the sector.