African governments, civil society organisations and youth movements are accelerating efforts to reduce dependence on foreign aid and reclaim national ownership of health and gender equality programmes following sweeping funding cuts by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The funding freeze, enacted by the US government in February 2025, led to the cancellation of a significant proportion of USAID grants across Africa, threatening programmes in health, sexual and reproductive rights and gender equality. Although a new agreement has since been signed to provide Kenya with US$1.6 billion over five years, the broader withdrawal of global funding continues to strain systems across the continent.
Speaking on the developments, Women Deliver’s Senior Associate for Youth Engagement, Christabel Netondo, said African countries are responding with renewed urgency and unity to rethink domestic financing and reduce vulnerability to external shocks. She noted that the funding crisis has triggered cross-party collaboration and stronger engagement between governments and civil society.
The shift towards Africa-led solutions was a key focus in November when Sonke Gender Justice hosted the African Regional Convening in Nairobi as part of the build-up to Women Deliver 2026. The meeting brought together more than 200 youth advocates, feminist leaders, policymakers and grassroots organisations from across the continent to advance African-driven approaches to gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Netondo cited Kenya as an example of policy reform aimed at strengthening domestic health systems. “In Kenya, new legislation introduced for the Social Health Insurance Fund, replacing the National Health Insurance Fund, is designed to provide broader access to healthcare services and products. It shows how governments are coming together to rethink domestic financing for healthcare,” she said.
She also questioned the long-standing reliance on global development frameworks, arguing that some multilateral systems have failed to adequately serve African priorities. “We cannot overlook the fact that some of these ratified global frameworks have adopted practices of colonialism and continue to be enabled by institutions that perpetuate inequalities, power divisions and the deprioritisation of national development agendas,” Netondo stated.
Despite shrinking civic space, rising anti-rights rhetoric and declining donor funding, African feminist movements and youth leaders are stepping into leadership roles. The Nairobi convening formed part of a wider global consultation led by Women Deliver to co-create a Feminist Playbook, aimed at holding power holders accountable and rebuilding systems that place women and girls at the centre of development.
The Playbook, launched at the United Nations General Assembly in September, has so far involved 15 regional consultations with contributions from more than 250 participants worldwide.
Netondo expressed optimism about Africa’s response to the crisis, pointing to renewed attention on institutions such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to drive the continent’s public health agenda. She also highlighted the growing influence of African philanthropy and alternative financing models, including initiatives led by networks such as the East Africa Philanthropy Network.
“It is very possible to fill these gaps,” she said, adding that discussions are increasingly focused on rebuilding the sovereignty of African systems through domestic commitment, complemented by carefully structured multilateral grants and concessional loans.
Registrations for Women Deliver 2026 are now open. Further details are available at womendeliver.org/wd2026.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU (freelance writer)