Former USAID employees keep dismantled agency’s life-saving work afloat

Key Concepts

• Project Resource Optimization (PRO): A website created by laid-off USAID employees to connect donors with threatened programs.
• USAID Shutdown: The cessation of operations by the U.S. Agency for International Development, leading to the cancellation of over 80% of its programs.
• Triage: A rapid assessment and prioritization process to identify the most critical and cost-effective programs for continued support.
• Cost-Effectiveness: The principle of maximizing impact (e.g., lives saved) per unit of financial investment.
• Humanitarian Portfolios: Program areas focused on immediate relief and life-saving interventions, particularly in crisis situations.
• Global Health and Survival: The overarching goal of many USAID programs, encompassing areas like immunizations and malnutrition treatment.
• Private Capital and Philanthropy: Non-governmental sources of funding sought to replace government aid.

Impact of USAID Shutdown

The shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) resulted in the cancellation of over 80% of its programs. This had significant and concerning implications on the ground, with advocates warning of increased instability, hunger, and death. The full effects are still unfolding, as many USAID-supported outcomes, such as immunizations, take time to manifest. The most immediate impacts are being observed in humanitarian settings, where essential health and nutrition services are failing to reach children in desperate need.

Project Resource Optimization (PRO) Initiative

In response to the USAID shutdown, two laid-off employees established a website called Project Resource Optimization (PRO). The primary objective of PRO is to match donors with threatened programs, aiming to keep cost-effective and life-saving projects operational. To date, PRO has successfully kept nearly 80 projects running in approximately 30 countries.

Program Triage and Selection Criteria

The founders of PRO implemented a "terrible triage" approach to identify which programs to prioritize for continued funding. The core criteria for selection were:

• Life-saving potential: Programs with the most immediate impact on saving lives.
• Cost-effectiveness: Programs delivering the most impact per dollar spent.

This prioritization was informed by extensive research and evidence on effective program interventions.

Examples of Prioritized Programs

The types of programs that weighed heavily on the founders' minds and were prioritized included:

• Immunizations for children under five: Programs focused on preventing infectious diseases by ensuring vaccine delivery and technical assistance for outreach. The transcript notes instances where vaccine programs were halted, leading to supply chain disruptions.
• Treatment of acute malnutrition: Programs aimed at preventing starvation in children, particularly in humanitarian settings like Sudan. The shutdown disrupted supply chains for ready-to-use therapeutic food, leading to supplies being locked in warehouses.

Funding Restoration and Donor Engagement

PRO's approach involves identifying high-impact programs and then actively seeking private capital and philanthropy to support them. Initially, securing funding was challenging, but over the past few months, there has been increasing engagement from donors who recognize the importance of these initiatives.

Future Outlook and Long-Term Strategy

The founders acknowledge that the long-term consequences of the USAID shutdown are not yet fully understood. They anticipate that much of the cut funding will not be restored in the immediate future. PRO's current efforts are focused on triaging projects and securing funding through the beginning of next year, with a final push to identify any missed critical projects.

Looking ahead to next year, PRO plans to transition into a new phase focused on:

• Program Design: Developing program designs that maximize impact per dollar spent.
• Partnership Streamlining: Continuing to work with existing partners to streamline program delivery and maintain high standards.
• Scaling Impact: Expanding efforts to bring more funding and support to critical programs.

Key Arguments and Perspectives

• The critical role of USAID programs: The transcript emphasizes the vital importance of USAID's work in global health, survival, and crisis response, highlighting the dire consequences of its shutdown.
• The necessity of rapid, evidence-based prioritization: The founders argue that in the face of drastic funding cuts, a rigorous triage process based on cost-effectiveness and life-saving potential is essential.
• The potential of private and philanthropic funding: The initiative demonstrates that non-governmental sources can play a crucial role in sustaining vital humanitarian and development programs.
• The long-term implications of aid disruption: The transcript suggests that the effects of the shutdown will be felt for an extended period, necessitating sustained efforts to mitigate harm and rebuild capacity.

Notable Quotes

• "I think the scariest part of that, the part that really set us aside a lot of times was when you knew what said had been doing, the importance of some of these programs for global health and survival and crises around the world, the thought of that just blinking out was really scary." - [Unnamed Founder]
• "Unfortunately that is starting to really bear out. Unfortunately I do not think that we have seen the full E effects of this." - [Unnamed Founder]
• "Our approach is to really bend to figure out at a rapid triage approach. What are the programs that are delivering the most impact per dollar spent? In terms of saving lives?" - [Unnamed Founder]

Conclusion

The establishment of Project Resource Optimization (PRO) represents a critical, albeit emergency, response to the significant disruption caused by the USAID shutdown. By employing a rigorous triage methodology focused on cost-effectiveness and life-saving impact, PRO has managed to sustain nearly 80 vital programs across 30 countries. While the immediate crisis is being addressed, the long-term implications of reduced international aid remain a concern, prompting PRO to shift its focus towards designing more impactful programs and fostering sustainable partnerships for the future.