Has anyone considered what donors can do in response to the USAID freeze?
Categories of actions which spring to my mind:
- Givewell top charities may be more cost effective now, because USAID is no longer taking lower hanging fruit. Analysis needed: to what extent is existing funding for each intervention coming from USAID, or likely to be affected by withdrawal of USAID funding, including (potentially complex) indirect effects.
- Funding political action to ensure the most effective interventions continue to be funded. Analysis needed: which organisation(s) are best positioned to make this work? Which interventions currently have an exemption (ie are allowed to continue)? Which criteria will the administration use to decide which interventions are allowed to be kept? Tractability: is there any hope that the administration can be influenced by civil society at all?
- Donate directly to USAID. Analysis needed: is this even possible? How effective will it be?
My thoughts on the categories of action are quite quick and dirty, as are my thoughts on the analysis needed, so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm missing something material here.