Key Facts
• January 2025: U.S. administration cuts foreign aid, halting water and sanitation projects.
• 16 countries identified with 21 incomplete projects, affecting millions globally.
• Hundreds of millions of dollars in funding withdrawn, leaving materials abandoned.
• Mali: Water towers for schools and clinics abandoned.
• Nepal: Over 100 water systems halted; 6,500 cement bags left unused.
• Lebanon: Solar power project for water utilities canceled, 70 jobs lost.
• Kenya: Unfinished irrigation canals increase flood risks; $2,000 needed for repairs.
• Local governments in some regions plan to complete projects with domestic funds.
Summary
The U.S. administration’s decision to significantly reduce foreign aid has left numerous water and sanitation projects incomplete across 16 countries, exposing millions to heightened risks. Since January 2025, hundreds of millions of dollars in funding have been withdrawn, halting 21 projects and leaving construction materials abandoned. In Mali, water towers for schools and clinics remain unfinished, while Nepal faces halted water system construction and unused supplies. Lebanon’s solar power initiative for water utilities was canceled, resulting in job losses and reliance on diesel power. In Kenya, incomplete irrigation canals have increased flood risks, with repair costs exceeding local income levels. Some governments aim to finish projects using domestic resources, but the global impact of these aid cuts remains severe.
