A quarter of young Africans believe USAID cuts could be positive, survey finds
A survey indicates that a significant portion of young Africans view recent cuts to US foreign aid as a potential positive, suggesting it may force local leaders to address domestic challenges. The findings come amid a broader trend of Western nations reducing international development budgets.
Why it matters
The shift in sentiment reflects changing attitudes toward foreign dependency and governance in African nations.
Sports fans in Accra, Ghana waving the national flag. More than 40% of Ghanaians aged 18-24 were optimistic about their country’s future after USAID cuts. Sports fans in Accra, Ghana waving the national flag. More than 40% of Ghanaians aged 18-24 were optimistic about their country’s future after USAID cuts. Global development A quarter of young Africans believe USAID cuts could be positive, survey finds Losing funds should force leaders to confront their own challenges, they said, while many voiced concerns over increasing foreign influence
About this content Sarah Johnson Thu 30 Jul 2026 01.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 30 Jul 2026 01.03 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google A quarter of young Africans believe aid cuts by the US could have a positive impact, saying that losing foreign money will force leaders to confront and solve their own challenges, according to a new survey.
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