Survey: 1 in 4 Young Africans Say US Aid Cuts Could Have Positive Impact

A new survey released on March 2 finds that one in four young Africans believe US aid cuts could bring a positive impact, arguing that losing foreign funding would force leaders to confront and solve their own challenges.

The African Youth Survey, conducted among nearly 5,000 people in 16 of the continent's 54 recognized countries, showed that in Ghana and Nigeria, close to half of young people aged 18 to 24 (41% and 40%, respectively) expressed optimism, followed by Liberia at 37%. Meanwhile, 11% of respondents said they were unsure about the impact of the aid cuts.

The administration of US President Donald Trump announced in early 2025 that it would eliminate more than 90% of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) foreign aid contracts and cut $60 billion in aid worldwide. US foreign aid was once designed to play a critical role in addressing global poverty, famine, and inequality.

The US is not alone; other countries such as Britain, France, and Germany have also cut aid budgets. In February 2025, Britain announced it would reduce its aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027, the lowest level since records began, against the United Nations target of 0.7%.

Ivor Ichikowitz, whose South African family foundation commissioned the survey, said: “The big picture from the survey is that young people are concerned about governments being overly influenced by foreign powers. What they are saying is that African governments need to take responsibility themselves and decide their own reality.”

According to the United Nations, Africa has the world's youngest population, with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under 30. The continent's median age is 19 years and 6 months. By 2030, Africa will be home to more than 40% of the world's youth.

The sudden USAID cuts have drawn anger and protests from development and humanitarian organizations. This has led to the closure of essential services, including maternity clinics, and drug shortages as UN agencies struggle to raise financing for humanitarian operations and food security is severely affected by climate change.

According to the survey, nearly half of young Africans (46%) believe the USAID shutdown will harm their countries, with health services and disease prevention seen as the hardest-hit areas. Concern is highest in Mozambique (76%), followed by Kenya (63%) and Rwanda (63%).

Degan Ali, executive director of Adeso, an African nonprofit that incubates ideas and businesses to reduce aid dependence, said that although the cuts were carried out in an “incredibly irresponsible and inhumane” way, she is not surprised that many young people see a positive side. “Many people feel aid is very condescending. They don't feel aid is used for the right things, and there's a feeling of 'We can do it ourselves.' The younger generation feels our leaders are the ones responsible and need to handle the needs of the community.”

Ali also said young people are looking toward African role models, notably the popularity of Burkina Faso's military leader Ibrahim Traoré, who describes himself as a Pan-Africanist, leading his country away from the grip of Western imperialism and neocolonialism. “He is one of the most beloved leaders across Africa. Young people see that he is improving a very poor country and genuinely cares about his people. That inspires young people to protest and say, 'We don't need aid, we have enough resources domestically, and we need leaders to act differently.'”

Hibak Kalfan, executive director of Near, a network of civil society organizations from the Global South, said the USAID shutdown has led to the suspension of many initiatives and organizations across the continent, but also creates an opportunity to rethink resources and sustainability. “It highlights the reality that organizations have relied too heavily on external bilateral funding for years, and the future of aid will depend on the diversity of resources.”