We’ve received a number of questions about the federal aid funding freeze and whether it’s impacted us here at Blood:Water. So we thought it may be helpful to share some of the most common questions, along with our answers!

Q: What is the “funding freeze”?

In January 2025, the new administration issued a stop-work order affecting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its funded programs, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This directive led to the suspension of numerous foreign aid initiatives, including many facets of HIV prevention and treatment. This resource helps visualize the scale of funding affected.

Q: What is the impact on health and communities?

For the 26 million people living with HIV on the African continent, uninterrupted access to clinical care isn’t just important – it’s vital for survival. Any disruption in HIV treatment increases the risk of developing resistance to Antiretrovirals, increasing viral loads, making an individual more susceptible to illness, and limiting access to preventive measures.

In addition, community-based care and support that provide holistic services to help with access, adherence, and HIV/AIDS prevention are also heavily impacted. A majority of these services are provided through community-led organizations, many of whom have had to close their doors or shutter programs due to the funding freeze. All of these factors jeopardize the 40+ years of progress in the fight to end the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Q: Is Blood:Water affected by the funding freeze?

We are not affected financially from the funding freeze, and have never received any government funding. (You can see more about our funding sources in our 2023 Annual Report.) However, our missional mandate is to end water and HIV/AIDS health disparities, so we are tremendously concerned about the impact on current partners and are actively working to address these new challenges.

Q: Have any Blood:Water partners been affected?

Yes, to varying degrees. Four of our partners have had to immediately and significantly alter existing plans for certain programs with funding that was frozen. For most organizations affected by these orders, that also means laying off all employees of these programs, and a lack of clarity about whether any waivers or future funding could allow them to continue their work. Our partners continue to do all that they can for their communities, despite severe limitations suddenly enacted.

Q: How is Blood:Water responding?

We’ve launched an initiative to protect the work of communities at the intersection of the hardest hit region and sector: East and Southern Africa and HIV/AIDS. For 20 years, we’ve been positioned at this juncture, partnering with local organizations to advance community-led responses out of the core belief that the sustainable end to health disparities must be rooted in and led by local communities. Our partnership model allows us to act fast while sustaining work long after our partnership ends, and is built specifically for HIV/AIDS’ unique challenges.

This historic moment demands the urgency of this approach, and we will continue to offer any support we can to our partners. You can read more about our response here.

Q: How can I help?

First, stay informed and advocate for local communities and organizations on the frontlines.

Second, support our work by starting a monthly gift today! Your financial support invests in the organizations and community members carrying out vital water, hygiene, sanitation, and holistic HIV programming, including livelihoods and education.

We aren’t going anywhere, and our commitment to supporting our partners remains steadfast. Plus, our organizational strengthening programming helps safeguard against and create contingency plans for circumstances just like this.

(Last update: February 25, 2025)