US aid freeze threatens higher education alliances in Africa

When Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term as United States president on 20 January, one of the flurry of executive orders he issued abruptly froze billions in US foreign assistance.

The pause is set to last for 90 days – officially to allow for a comprehensive review of funding priorities and to assess whether US aid aligns with the administration’s foreign policy objectives.

The move has been widely scrutinised for its impact on global humanitarian and development efforts. One critical consequence is its effect on higher education in Africa, ranging from bursaries and scholarships to research in critical fields such as health, climate change and agriculture.

Actions targeting USAID

US foreign aid has played a crucial role in strengthening African universities, particularly through the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and partnerships between African and American institutions.

USAID used to be an independent federal agency, the single biggest distributor of US foreign assistance, funding healthcare, education and emergency response initiatives across the world.

But all of this is now in jeopardy. An attempt to access information about HESN online this week was met with the following message: “On Friday, 7 February 2025, at 11:59pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally …”

In a significant restructuring move, the Trump administration appears intent on at least overhauling USAID, or worse. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed as the acting administrator of the organisation, signalling a consolidation of the agency under the State Department’s purview.

Concurrently, Elon Musk, the South Africa-born tech billionaire tasked by Trump with streamlining federal operations, has been openly critical of USAID, describing it as “not an apple with a worm in it, but actually just a ball of worms”, suggesting that the agency is beyond repair, and advocating for its shutdown.

African universities under threat

Trump’s ‘America first’ policy has the effect of placing ‘Africa last’, as the US aid freeze cripples higher education across the continent.

The freeze has disrupted:

• Institutional partnerships – Many African universities collaborate with US institutions on initiatives such as climate research, public health studies and agricultural innovation;

• Capacity-building programmes – USAID-funded projects that train African academics and administrators to improve university governance and research capabilities; and

• Scholarships and bursaries – Several African students rely on funding from aid-supported schemes to access quality education.

For universities in many countries, this funding has been instrumental in expanding educational access and quality. The freeze not only jeopardises these efforts, but also raises concerns about the sustainability of Africa’s higher education development without external support.

Research and innovation

US-backed research collaborations have helped African universities become key players in seeking solutions to regional and global challenges.

Areas such as public health, climate resilience and food security have benefited significantly from funding partnerships with American institutions.

The freeze particularly threatens:

• Public health research – Many African universities collaborate with US institutions on projects related to HIV/Aids, malaria and emerging diseases. Without funding, essential health interventions could stall.

• Climate change research – The US has supported African researchers in studying droughts, desertification and climate adaptation. A funding gap could weaken Africa’s ability to tackle climate crises.

• Agricultural research – Many initiatives, such as those under Feed the Future, until recently the US government’s global hunger and food security initiative, have been helping African universities develop more resilient crops and sustainable farming practices. Now an online search for information about the programme says, “Not Found”, it “does not exist”.

With a growing emphasis on Africa as a centre for scientific innovation, losing US support could slow progress, particularly in universities that lack alternative funding sources.

Student and staff mobility

The US has long been a preferred destination for African students pursuing higher education abroad, with thousands benefiting from aid-backed scholarships and academic exchanges. Stricter visa policies have already led to a decline in African student enrolment in the US, which will be exacerbated by Trump’s aid freeze.

Potential consequences include:

• Fewer scholarship opportunities – Many African students who depend on USAID-funded scholarships may now struggle to afford tuition at American institutions.

• Declining faculty exchanges – African and US universities have long exchanged academics to facilitate knowledge transfer, but budget constraints could weaken these initiatives.

• Shifting student preferences – With American opportunities diminishing, African students may increasingly look to alternative destinations, such as the UK and Europe, Canada and China.

Without robust funding, African talent that once looked to US institutions for training may, instead, seek opportunities elsewhere, potentially reducing US influence in Africa’s academic landscape.

US-Africa academic partnerships

If the aid freeze continues, the long-term implications for African higher education could be profound. African universities have made strides in expanding access, improving research capacity and forging international collaborations, but many of these advances have relied on external funding.

Potential responses include:

• Advocating for policy change – African higher education leaders can engage with US institutions and policymakers to highlight the need for continued academic investment.

• Seeking alternative funding sources – African universities may need to look to the EU, China, and private foundations for research grants and capacity-building support.

• Expanding intra-African collaboration – Stronger partnerships within Africa could help universities become more self-reliant in research and funding.

Trump’s aid freeze is a stark reminder of how political decisions in Washington can reverberate across African campuses. Whether the next US administration restores these crucial funding streams or whether Africa’s universities must adapt to a new funding landscape remains to be seen.

A turning point?

Higher education in Africa stands at a crossroads. The US aid freeze threatens to disrupt research, academic exchanges and long-standing university partnerships, forcing institutions to rethink their funding models and global alliances.

While African universities have shown remarkable resilience, the question remains: Can they thrive without US support, or will alternative global players, some that have already made significant inroads to make their geopolitical imprint on the continent, redefine Africa’s academic future?

If the US wishes to maintain its influence and continue shaping Africa’s intellectual and research landscape, policymakers must recognise that higher education is not just an afterthought in foreign aid – it is a cornerstone of long-term global engagement.

The freeze on US foreign aid may be temporary, but its impact on African higher education could be lasting. Whether through policy shifts, new funding streams, or deeper South-South cooperation, the continent’s universities will need to navigate a rapidly changing global academic order.

SOURCES: Association of African Universities Mobility Data, 2023; Association of African Universities Policy Brief, 2024; British Council Africa Education Trends, 2024; CBS News, 2 February 2025; Feed the Future website, accessed 4 February 2025; Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN), USAID Annual Report, 2023; Institute of International Education, Open Doors Report, 2024; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report, 2023; National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Data, 2023; Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education & Immigration Report, 2024; Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, South African Medical Research Council, 3 February 2025; Professor Scarlett Cornelissen, Stellenbosch University, 4 February 2025; Times Higher Education Africa Report, 2024; University of Cape Town Global Partnerships Report, 2023; USAID Higher Education Programme Summary, 2024; USAID website, accessed 4 February 2025; US Congressional Budget Justification, 2024; US Congressional Research Service, 2024; US Executive Order 14172, 22 January 2025; US State Department announcement, 21 January 2025; US State Department Education and Cultural Exchange Report, 2023; US State Department waiver document, 28 January 2025; World Bank Higher Education Report, 2023.

This article is a commentary. Commentary articles are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of University World News.