USAID to Exit Nigeria by January 2025, Impact on CSOs

USAID is set to close its mission in Nigeria by January 2025, marking a significant shift in the funding landscape for Nigerian civil society organizations (CSOs). Since 2002, USAID has been a major partner in Nigeria, providing approximately $2.54 billion to the humanitarian sector and $2.8 billion to health initiatives, including combating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

The agency's support for the education sector has remained below $50 million annually. As part of its new localization policy initiated in early 2020, USAID aims to allocate 25% of its funds directly to local organizations and shift 50% of its program control to local actors by 2030.

Analysts are studying the impact of USAID's exit on Nigeria's development and humanitarian programs, with organizations like the MacArthur Foundation leading dialogues on CSO resilience. A webinar hosted by the European Union think tank on June 9 examined the implications of this funding gap for Nigeria's third sector.