Giving with Impact - The Challenges Facing Humanitarian Aid Groups Right Now

BARBARA WHEELER-BRIDE:  Welcome to a new episode of Giving With Impact, an original podcast series from Stanford Social Innovation Review developed with the support of DAFGiving360. I’m your host, Barbara Wheeler-Bride, an editor at SSIR. In this series, we bring together voices from across the philanthropic ecosystem to have a conversation about what’s at the heart of achieving more effective philanthropy.  

Today, we’re going to talk about the impact of the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid, and how donors can step in to fill the funding gap. Humanitarian aid plays a critical role in saving lives and alleviating suffering around the world. What do these cuts mean to the people in communities facing ongoing crises, such as war and climate disaster? How do non-profits and NGOs pick up the pieces and continue to provide things, like lifesaving medical treatments, preventative measures to protect against disease outbreaks or programs for things like education, maternal and child health, and nutrition?  

Our guests today are Bob Kitchen, Vice President, Emergencies and Humanitarian Action at the International Rescue Committee, and Harriet Carvalho, Director of Operations at DAFGiving360. Bob and Harriet, thanks so much for being with us.  

Bob, the International Rescue Committee is one of the leading humanitarian aid groups in the world. What are some examples of how and where IRC is delivering assistance around the world right now?  

BOB KITCHEN:  Well, thanks for having me on today. We were founded in 1933, at the suggestion of Albert Einstein, at a time when people were fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. We’ve helped people escape and offered support for those facing violence and discrimination based on their race and political beliefs. Today, the IRC works in over 40 countries and 29 US cities to restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are in the midst of conflict, or find themselves uprooted and struggling to endure. We respond to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and in just the last few years alone, we’ve mounted major responses in Ukraine, in Gaza, and in Sudan, where the world’s largest humanitarian crisis is playing out right now. We save lives by delivering high impact, cost-effective solutions that help people affected by crisis.  

We also use our learning and experience to shape humanitarian policy and practicing ways that improve the lives of more people worldwide. We make sure people have their most basic survival needs met, such as shelter, health, and security. We deliver education for children in crises situations, especially young women, and we often have to support entire health systems, from ensuring people have clean water and safe sanitation, to keeping health clinics running, and reaching out to communities to screen and help kids who are literally starving.  

BARBARA:  In January, the Trump administration announced a 90-day freeze on foreign aid, with some partial waivers, and at the end of February announced terminations of most US-funded international grants. So this decision applies to USAID and the State Department, but it also seems to affect non-profits like IRC doing humanitarian and development work. Can you share with us how the freezes and the waivers, and now terminations are impacting IRC?  

BOB:  Well, to start with, let me just say that I’ve led emergency response programs around the world for more than 25 years now, and I’ve never seen anything like this. We received word last week that the US State Department as a part of its review of foreign aid spending had terminated at least 10,000 USAID and State Department grants and contracts. As you can imagine, that’s had a massive impact on the services IRC delivers to clients around the world. One day people knew where to go to get help emblazoned with ‘from the American people.’ The next, it’s gone. This is especially critical for programs that had been classified as, quote, lifesaving activities, and therefore, had been given a waiver from foreign aid suspension, the one you talked about that came out in January. The termination of these awards has completely disrupted critical services, including healthcare, nutrition, and other emergency relief, leaving some of the most vulnerable people in the world without services on which they can depend for survival. Lives have already been lost.  

As of the close of business last week, IRC had received at least 48 award terminations across its international humanitarian and refugee response programs. The conservative estimate is that nearly 2 million crisis-affected people that IRC served will not have access to critical services across multiple crisis zones. By outcome, the numbers are extremely stark. As a result of the terminations, over 16,000 children are losing access to nutritional services. IRC operates just about 20 what’s called stabilization centers for the treatment of severely malnourished babies. Unless we do something together, 16,000 babies will have to go without access to lifesaving treatment in countries like Sudan and Afghanistan. And the numbers get worse from there. More than 180,000 people will not have access to safe water and clean sanitation services. And while it’s not strictly lifesaving, I was briefed this morning that 18,000 girls in Afghanistan who we’ve been helping access underground schools will be on their own out of school. It’s really heartbreaking. 

IRCs US-funded work on treatment of infectious diseases for thousands of people, including children in several countries experiencing conflict and crisis, a key component of global health security, have also been terminating, undermining efforts to combat deadly infections in vulnerable populations. We’ve got an Ebola outbreak in Uganda right now, something that we’ve seen threaten the US in the past, and we are now facing that reality without the backing of the US government. We now face the starkest of stark choices about which services can be protected. I had a meeting earlier where we debated which life-saving services to sustain and which we can’t afford, and we’re going to have to cut. We need help if we’re going to continue helping people who are desperately in need.  

BARBARA:  Bob, you used the word ‘heartbreaking,’ which was what was flashing through my mind as you were speaking. And I also think another word that comes to mind is just ‘devastating’ for these communities, and for the trust that’s been built between organizations like IRC, and other humanitarian aid groups and communities. I wonder if you have any insights into how these terminations could affect the humanitarian sector more broadly going forward.  

BOB:  Well, the US government just ended thousands of humanitarian aid programs and cut off billions of dollars of lifesaving aid to those who really need it the most. The termination of these awards is a devastating blow to the clients of the IRC and other humanitarian NGOs around the world. These are people who depend on US-funded services for the basics of survival. These programs are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent real lives and real futures. Not only will these cuts have a tremendous humanitarian human cost, they undermine the USA standing and influence as a credible actor in the most fragile and unstable parts of the world. They’ve been saying for decades, ‘You can trust us,’ And now they’ve just disappeared.  

BARBARA:  Harriet, getting funds to charities during times of need, like what Bob has just outlined in this really critical time is crucial. Why might donors choose to give to a charity like IRC through a DAF account right now?  

HARRIET CARVALHO:  Thank you for the question, Barbara. Bob makes so many good points about how we all have to act. And a donor-advised fund is one of the best vehicles that can be used to support in scenarios like this. A donor-advised fund account is a simple tax-smart solution for charitable giving. And not only are you able to use the funds in this account to give within the US, you can also make a huge impact in international giving. Our folks over here make it as simple as possible for our donors, and our specialists in international branding can guide those looking to make those effective and efficient ways to meet their charitable giving goals.  

BARBARA:  Bob, you alluded to this earlier, but what steps is IRC taking to reshuffle from a program side and a funding side to keep delivering aid and assistance around the world?  

BOB:  Well, it’s been really tough. Since January the 24^th, we’ve continued to shoulder the costs for most of our urgent lifesaving programs. We did so based on the expectation that funding for these services that were delivered before January 24^th and the services that were covered under the waiver would be paid by the US government. But that hasn’t happened. We’ve been resourceful about ways to keep cash flowing, to keep clinics open, provide shelter, and continue the basic lifesaving services that are needed, including taking terribly difficult decisions to reduce our staff around the world, to cut jobs. We’ve had to make really hard choices. We’ve been in constant contact with our sister organizations to try and keep services for those most affected going, and are keeping a focus on the most critical services. We’ve leaned on our donors to help us, sharing the impacts for the policies and what they mean for our clients. So we’ve been really pushing to keep as many programs open as we can, but we’re coming to the end of the road, basically. It’s just too much. There’s too much need, and it’s cost too much without the US government.  

BARBARA:  How are you talking with donors about the current funding landscape, and what’s their response been like?  

BOB:  Well, let me say this. Twenty-five years in the industry, and I would say it’s been really inspiring. Our donors care deeply about the people who are impacted, both our clients and our staff. We’ve shared the impact of the funding freeze, and now the terminations, as we’ve worked to serve our clients in the best ways we can. Our sector has had a catastrophic blow, and we need private philanthropy to help us meet this incredible moment and continue our lifesaving work. We’re asking the American public to support our efforts, and those of our worthy non-profits to mitigate the impact of these cuts for people in critical need around the world. We’ve also asked our donors to consider unrestricted and flexible funding. This will allow us to meet the most urgent needs, as our clients and as we navigate through this funding crisis.  

BARBARA:  How does the IRC ensure that aid money not only reaches the correct people, but is the most efficient and effective with every dollar?  

BOB:  Well, around the world, over 300 million people are in need of humanitarian insistence, one in 22 people. And more than ever before, we need new ways of thinking and new ways to reach them. The IRC is a leader in cost-effective data-driven programming. Since 2015, we’ve completed over 400 cost-efficiency analysis reports to help ensure every dollar spent is made sure it’s based on evidence. We have extensive experience in managing and reducing costs in large portfolios. Moreover, while we represent only 3% of the humanitarian sector’s budget, we are responsible for a third, a full third of the impact evaluations in our sector. So many organizations look to us to see what’s efficient. We focus on fostering innovation and scalable and efficient solutions through our Air Bell Labs, such as drought resistant seeds in climate challenged areas, ready-to-eat food that is locally sourced and inexpensive to treat malnourished children, customized education programs to provide learning during acute crises. So that’s some of the examples of the things that we’re really pushing forward.  

BARBARA:  How do you think these funding freezes and funding cuts will impact that kind of innovative thinking for you and for the sector?  

BOB:  It’s a really good question. I think we’ve had the benefit of sufficient funding to be innovative, to be creative in our programming, but that can work on the other way around. When you have massive funding pressure and you need to figure out how to make money stretch as far as it goes, it forces you to be innovative. It forces you to think creatively and carefully about reaching as many people as you possibly can with each dollar.  

BARBARA:  Thanks, Bob. Harriet, I understand you have a personal connection to IRC. Would you mind sharing that story with our listeners?  

HARRIET:  I do. Twenty-some years ago, back in the early 1990s, my uncle actually lived in Sierra Leone during the Civil War that happened in that country. That was his adopted country. And unfortunately for him and many like him, he had to leave the country with his family and moved to The Gambia, where my family is originally from. And my cousins share stories, horrific stories of what happened during this time, but also uplifting stories about the non-profits that were present on the ground during this really horrible time. And they were there for the people. The IRC showed up incredibly well for the Sierra Leonians during the Civil War. And when I think of the work that they do, it gives me courage knowing that international non-profits are present, and they’re on the ground when there are such huge and horrific crises happening around the world.  

BARBARA:  Thanks for sharing that story, Harriet. I think it does really exemplify why it’s so important to support humanitarian aid, and to make sure there are people there to help in times of war or crises because there are real people who are impacted by those, and we need to care and support our neighbors around the world. Thank you.  

Harriet, what would you say to donors who want to maximize their charitable impact, given the need we see across the humanitarian sector right now?  

HARRIET:  I would suggest they begin by researching charities that are doing impactful work. There are a lot of charities that are doing very impactful work, so start with that. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is a great resource, as well as Charity Navigator, and GuideStar.  

Additionally, for donors, I would say instead of waiting for that surge in the November-December time where we remember granting during the holidays, maybe this is a time to start the work earlier and researching charities that are doing work that matter to you and consider setting up reoccurring grants. I would also say one of the things that truly helps some of our partners is ensuring that you are considering unrestricted donations. This allows our charities to use the dollars where they’re needed the most.  

BARBARA:  Thanks, Harriet. I think what you said about recurring and unrestricted gifts is very important, and it can really help organizations sustain their work.  

Bob, non-profits and NGOs in the humanitarian sector are rising to meet this moment as best they can. You are one of them, and I thank you so much for speaking with us today, and for leading IRC and staff around the world who are, I’m sure, struggling right now on multiple levels, with their day-to-day work, with the heartbreak that they’re probably feeling really intensely for the communities they work with. I wonder what you would say to the people listening to this podcast who are working or volunteering with these organizations about the future.  

BOB:  Well, let me just say the IRC has been around for 90 years, and no matter what the world has faced, the IRC has courageously met that moment. And this holds true today. We work across 40 countries to help people in the hardest to reach places survive, recover, and rebuild. Our commitment, our tenacity, remains unshakeable today. There are many other worthy organizations out there that are doing this hard and rewarding work. If your listeners care about these issues and care about the millions of people who are suffering in this world from crises that they didn’t create, give generously and get involved in any way you can.  

BARBARA:  Bob, could this be an opportunity for donors who are interested in supporting specific causes, like maternal health, or girls’ education in Afghanistan like you mentioned earlier, or other programs that might otherwise go without federal funding going forward?  

BOB:  Yeah, I mean, with the US government pullback on all forms of international humanitarian aid, there are incredible amounts of important work that will need private support, especially in the areas of climate resilience, sexual and reproductive health, support for LGBTQ-plus communities. I mean, talk with organizations you care about, and those that Harriet has mentioned, the needs have not changed, and many are more important than ever. Every donor can make a difference in a way that’s meaningful to them right now.  

In this time where the US has stepped back and left this huge hole in humanitarian funding, I hear from a lot of donors who are really concerned that no matter how much they give, it would just be a drop in the ocean. And the thing I always say to that is what do you think the ocean is made up of, if not for drops, many drops of people coming together and making a huge difference to save lives right now? So don’t worry about how much you can give. Just join hands with everybody else who is trying to make a difference right now.  

BARBARA:  Bob and Harriet, thank you again for making time to talk with us about these cuts, and how IRC is responding, how donors can make an impact to support humanitarian aid. And again, echoing what Harriet and Bob said, please consider supporting IRC or other humanitarian aid groups who are really in need right now, and who are really meeting critical needs in communities around the world.  

Thanks for listening, everyone. Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app, as it helps others discover the show. We hope you’ll listen to other episodes in this series, as well as other podcasts from SSIR. This podcast series is made possible with the support of DAFGiving360, who played an important role in the selection of topics and speakers. We’ll talk with you again soon. 

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