AID FREEZE: NGOS BARRED FROM TALKING TO MEDIA

MBABANE – Shoosh! Executives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been ordered not to engage the media regarding the 47th President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump’s, executive orders issued on January 20, 2025 which ushered in a 90-day pause on disbursements of foreign aid. The executive orders were followed by the ‘stop-work order’ approved by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio four days later, which unexpectedly ordered all current work to stop immediately.
Over the past two days, letters have been sent to US grant recipients following the ‘stop-work order’ issued late Friday by the US State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance.
In light of these developments, media houses sought comments from directors of various organisations, regarding the impact of the executive orders.

In fact, a number of the entities listed in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Eswatini website to be beneficiaries, when sought for comments, declined to comment and or requested not to be mentioned. This publication has since established that beneficiaries of the assistance extended by the USAID have been advised to shy away from the media.It was gathered that a correspondence was circulated to the entities and the message barring them from engaging with the media reads: “Good day directors, we’ve since gathered that journalists are seeking our comments regarding the ongoing implementation freeze following the Trump administration orders on foreign assistance and would like to guide as follows:
1.     While we understand that this pause in implementation has raised public interest, we are unfortunately not cleared to engage publicly on this as the prime partner and by extension implementing partners.
2.     You’ll recall that on January 20, 2025, we received instructions to cease any public engagements and meetings related to USAID-funded work. This by extension means we cannot be the ones engaging publicly about this Trump administration orders on foreign assistance freeze.
3.     Therefore, you’re guided along with your teams, to NOT ENGAGE publicly on this issue, refer them to local US mission for any comments on this. I know it is a period of uncertainties and all of us are frustrated, but let us keep a positive outlook, this will eventually work out. Thanks directors.”

This directive to the executives of the NGOs was subsequent to the correspondence advising them of the ‘stop-work order and award suspension notice’. The correspondence addressed the implementing partners and contractors that the stop-work order and award suspension notice (this notice) serve as a two-part directive to all USAID implementing partners (IP) that requires their immediate action. “Implementation of executive order on Re-evaluating and Re-aligning United States Foreign Aid in accordance with the Executive Order on Re-evaluating and Re-aligning United States Foreign Aid, dated January 20, 2025 (link) and the related USAID Notice on Implementation of Executive Order: Re-evaluating and Re-aligning United States Foreign Aid, dated January 24, 2025. 

This Notice serves as a directive to all USAID to immediately stop, cease and/or suspend any work being performed under your respective USAID funding agreement, including but not limited to, a contract, task order, grant, cooperative agreement or other,” reads in part the correspondence. An excerpt of the communication further states that ‘USAID is taking prompt action to comply with the President’s Executive Order on Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programmes and Preferencing, the rescission of Executive Order 14 035 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce and additional direction provided by the Department of State’.  It stated that all previously identified principal diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) awards have been sent termination notices and should not incur any further costs.

Contracts

“With respect to all other ongoing awards: all DEIA activities under all contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and other awards, including subcontracts and sub-awards and programmes domestic and abroad, are to cease immediately, with awards to be modified or terminated in accordance with applicable award terms and conditions,” reads an excerpt from correspondence sent to USAID beneficiaries. The recipients of the correspondence were advised that their organisations must immediately comply with the notice and take all reasonable steps to minimise the incurrence of costs allocable to the work covered by the notice during the period of work stoppage.

“This includes your organisation issuing a Stop-Work Order and Award Suspension Notice to all sub-awardees that will be affected by this Notice,” an excerpt of the correspondence reads. It is worth noting that a high number of entities locally benefit from USAID through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR also implements programmes through other entities and NGOs including the following: NERCHA, EGPAF, Georgetown University, PSI, The Luke Commission, ICAP, PACT, Young Heroes, World Vision, DataFi, PSM, Project Last Mile, Right to Care, URC, CANGO, CERA, Kwakha Indvodza, Bible Society and  AMICAALL.

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