In January, we published a blog post titled When Universal Truths Wobble, highlighting the challenges facing global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Universal Health Coverage – and improving access to and quality of healthcare in general. We raised a critical question: How do we ensure these priorities remain at the forefront when the world’s attention is pulled in so many directions? Now, just a few months later, we are having to answer this question in real time, as funding cuts change the landscape of global health  – putting the health and well-being of millions at risk.

For decades, USAID and other international funding sources have played a vital role in improving health outcomes worldwide. These efforts have supported everything from routine immunizations and maternal healthcare to emergency food assistance and disease control programs. However, recent cuts to humanitarian aid – including large reductions in funding for NGOs and UN agencies – are threatening this progress.

The impact is already being felt:

• Essential health programs are facing risks to their ability to function – Projects like PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which has been pivotal in fighting HIV/AIDS, are being impacted – in fact, UNAIDS estimates that if PEPFAR is halted completely, there will be an additional 6.3M AIDS-related deaths and 8.7M new adult HIV infections by 2029. But HIV/AIDS programs aren’t the only ones affected (see below), and there are deadly consequences ahead, since the US was funding around 47% of the global humanitarian appeal in 2024.
• Routine immunizations are at risk, and the fight against some of the world’s deadliest diseases is under threat. Among programs disrupted are programs focussed on malaria prevention, tuberculosis treatment, polio vaccination, ebola surveillance, and HIV treatment and prevention.
• Food aid distribution is breaking down – In some places, food deliveries have stopped altogether because there is no longer any staff available to distribute supplies. This leaves millions at risk of malnutrition and hunger-related diseases.
• Humanitarian data collection has been eliminated – Without key monitoring systems like the famine early warning system, it is becoming nearly impossible to track and understand the extent of the impact that the cuts to humanitarian aid are having effectively.

These setbacks underscore a harsh reality: when governments shift their focus away from global health, the world’s most vulnerable pay the price.

While it is known that changing governments and global dynamics can shift funding and priorities rapidly, nobody could see the extent of the current policy changes coming.

In our January blog, we outlined key steps to ensure that progress toward universal health access continues – even in times of uncertainty. These steps still hold true:

• Supporting health programs that improve access to essential services, particularly in regions affected by funding losses.
• Building partnerships to create responsible and transparent practices that ensure aid reaches those who need it most.
• Engaging in advocacy efforts to keep global health issues visible and prioritized, ensuring that no one forgets the millions who depend on these programs.

However, the world isn’t short on ideas, initiatives, or motivation – what is missing, especially now, is funding. That’s a gap we aim to bridge in our work at Elucid. We support our clients in building public-private partnerships to ensure funding gaps are closed where it is needed most. One example of this is our program in Ghana, where we work to improve farmer health in Tony’s Chocolonely’s cocoa supply chain. In 2025, the program is expanding in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Ghana Health Service to provide HPV and malaria vaccinations and strengthen healthcare systems at the community level.

Despite the challenges outlined above, we remain committed to our mission, and we know that Healthier Farmers are Stronger Farmers. Our health programs continue to focus on improving access to healthcare in farming communities across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, regions that are being disproportionately affected by recent aid cuts. By building public-private partnerships, we can ensure that our programs are more resilient to funding shifts, ensuring that essential health services do not disappear – or become inaccessible.

The current situation is deeply worrying for those who work in health programming around the globe – and the communities they wish to serve, but the future is not predetermined. With deliberate action, ongoing collaboration, and unwavering commitment, we can help uphold the universal truth that health is a human right: no matter what challenges arise, and which global actors choose to deprioritise or ignore that right. At Elucid, we will continue to stand with and work with vulnerable communities to protect the progress we have made, and push forward toward a more equitable future, where everyone, right down to the last mile, has access to the essential healthcare they need.