By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I.
The recent drawdown of funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has delivered a significant blow to Liberia’s health sector, raising urgent concerns among Civil Society Actors and development partners about the country’s capacity to sustain vital health services. This reduction in international aid has particularly impacted programs focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), maternal and child health, disease prevention, and health system strengthening—areas critical to Liberia’s ongoing development and health resilience.
Impact on Community Health Services and Vulnerable Populations
One of the most severely affected sectors is the Community Health Services program, which has played a pivotal role in extending healthcare access to remote and underserved communities. This program has been instrumental in delivering sexual reproductive health education, HIV/AIDS awareness, immunizations, and basic healthcare services to populations that often lack access to formal health facilities. However, with the decline in funding, many community health workers—who serve as the frontline of Liberia’s health system—are now experiencing uncertainty regarding their future employment, threatening the gains made in maternal, neonatal, and child health indicators.
The USAID-funded Health Services Delivery Project had previously contributed significantly to reducing maternal mortality rates, increasing immunization coverage, and improving neonatal health outcomes. Now, these efforts face setbacks, risking a reversal of progress as resources dwindle.
Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services at Risk
The cuts in funding have also had a ripple effect on family planning and reproductive health initiatives. USAID has historically been a major provider of contraceptives and reproductive health education through partnerships with NGOs and community-based organizations. The reduction in financial support has led to shortages of contraceptives, diminished outreach activities, and curtailed educational campaigns. These setbacks elevate the risk of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unsafe abortions—particularly among young women and girls who rely heavily on accessible reproductive health services.
Broader Systemic Challenges
Beyond reproductive health, the aid reduction has impacted broader health system strengthening efforts. These include critical activities such as healthcare worker training, digitization of health records, and infection prevention protocols established after Liberia’s Ebola outbreak in 2014-2016. The Ebola crisis had exposed the fragility of Liberia’s health infrastructure, prompting targeted investments in infection control and health data management. Now, with diminished funding, these improvements are at risk of regression.
Nutrition programs—especially those targeting pregnant women, infants, and young children—have also been scaled back across several counties. This raises alarms among health experts who warn of the long-term consequences, including stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased mortality among Liberia’s most vulnerable populations.
Addressing the Challenges: The Role of Civil Society and the Government
In response to these mounting challenges, the Amplifying Rights Network—an alliance of civil society organizations advocating for health and human rights—organized a critical day-long roundtable discussion on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, to strategize on how Liberia’s government and development partners can bridge the funding gap left by USAID’s withdrawal.
The symposium was held at the Liberia Learning Resource Centre in Paynesville City and was presided over by Mrs. Naomi Tulay Solanke, the focal person for Amplifying Rights Network. She emphasized that the primary goal of the gathering was to deliberate on sustainable solutions that could uphold and advance Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) amid shrinking international aid.
In her opening remarks, Solanke highlighted the urgent need for the government to step up by reviewing and strengthening existing policies on SRHR, ensuring that these policies are effectively implemented and enforced. She underscored the importance of engaging civil society organizations, healthcare providers, and development partners in a coordinated effort to sustain essential services.
Key Discussion Points and Recommendations
Participants at the roundtable discussed several critical areas:
Policy Harmonization and Enforcement: The need for the government to amend, implement, and enforce policies that promote SRHR, including laws on gender equality, reproductive rights, and access to healthcare. Stakeholders urged the Ministry of Health to work closely with CSOs to ensure policies are translated into tangible actions on the ground.
Innovative Financing and Resource Mobilization: The group called for exploring alternative funding mechanisms, including innovative financing models such as social impact bonds, health levies, and public-private partnerships. There was also a strong recommendation for remapping the roles of international partners and leveraging diaspora investments to support health initiatives.
Harnessing Social Development Funds: An emphasis was placed on utilizing existing social development funds, tax revenues, and other domestic resources to supplement health financing. One proposal suggested incentivizing Liberian diaspora investments, such as encouraging returning nationals to contribute through tax contributions or direct funding for health projects.
Establishing Multi-Stakeholder Task Forces: The participants proposed creating dedicated task forces comprising government officials, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to coordinate financing efforts and ensure accountability for SRHR initiatives.
Expanding Community-Based Interventions: Recognizing the importance of grassroots efforts, stakeholders called for increased support to community health workers, mobile clinics, and local NGOs to sustain outreach, education, and service delivery in hard-to-reach areas.
Moving Forward: A Call to Action
Mrs. Solanke reiterated the collective commitment of the stakeholders to keep reproductive rights and health at the forefront of Liberia’s development agenda. She urged the government to prioritize health sector funding in national budgets and to establish mechanisms for regular dialogue with civil society and development partners.
The participants further emphasized the importance of fostering innovation in health financing, including exploring social impact investments and diaspora contributions, to ensure the continuity of vital health services. They urged the government to establish a dedicated multi-stakeholder task force focused specifically on financing and implementing SRHR programs across the country.
Conclusion
As Liberia grapples with the repercussions of the USAID funds drawdown, the resilience and resourcefulness of civil society, government, and development partners will be crucial in safeguarding the health and rights of Liberia’s people. Continued advocacy, strategic policy reforms, and innovative financing solutions will be essential for maintaining progress and ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of health equity and reproductive justice.
