The Estonian Human Rights Centre has joined an international appeal condemning the suspension of U.S. foreign aid. The appeal to the philanthropic community is a response to an executive order by the U.S. presidential administration to terminate foreign aid and all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

The recent order, which halts U.S. foreign aid for three months, has devastating consequences for the most vulnerable populations worldwide: women, LGBTI communities, victims of severe human rights violations, human rights and environmental defenders, climate change victims, migrants, and many others. It also affects independent journalism and media, anti-corruption efforts, the promotion of good governance, and the rule of law.

Although some of the suspended funds may be reinstated in the future, the immediate impact is already immense. Reports indicate layoffs and indefinite suspensions of civil society organizations’ activities in various regions.

Given that the U.S. government allocated a colossal sum of $63 billion in foreign aid in 2024, this decision disrupts entire sectors. For many organizations, securing alternative funding will become nearly impossible.

While raising an equivalent sum is practically unattainable, a solidarity-driven response can still direct resources to the affected sectors and mitigate the impact of these orders.

The organizations that signed the appeal recommend:

• Continuously monitoring and researching the global impact of these decisions and supporting civil society organizations engaged in this work. This includes short-term analysis and an assessment of the situation after the U.S. government reviews its funding, aiming to identify the most vulnerable areas and movements suffering the most.
• Developing targeted and strategic programs with emergency funding, including direct unrestricted grants, pooled funding mechanisms, and grant distribution networks.
• Establishing an emergency litigation fund to support a network of lawyers coordinating international legal actions (including potential class-action lawsuits) against the U.S. government.
• Urgent political and financial advocacy with governments and wealthy individuals to increase funding for the most affected communities.
• Easing the conditions on already allocated grants so that organizations can use funds flexibly, rather than being restricted to narrowly defined project expenses, thereby reducing financial risks.

Read more and see the list of organizations that signed the appeal