United States President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the U.S out of 66 global agencies, including dozens of United Nations entities, is raising alarms in Nigeria, where millions rely on programs funded largely by American contributions.
Nigeria, one of the countries affected following the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is set to face another potential aid cut after the U.S ended its association with 31 are UN entities while 35 are non-UN affiliated.
Trump, in a presidential memorandum, signed on January 7, directed U.S agencies to immediately cease participation in and funding for 31 UN bodies and 35 non-UN organizations deemed “contrary to the interests of the United States.”
Key withdrawals include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, and various climate, health, and development-related entities.
The memorandum explained that Trump decided to pull the U.S out of 66 global agencies following a review of all international intergovernmental organisations, conventions, and treaties in which the country is a member or financially supports.
“The Memorandum orders all Executive Departments and Agencies to cease participating in and funding 35 non-United Nations (UN) organisations and 31 UN entities that operate contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty,” the White House said.
According to the White House, the withdrawals “will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities, or that address important issues inefficiently or ineffectively”.
Following the decision, there have been concerns that the development could disrupt critical aid flows to Nigeria, one of the largest recipients of U.S.-supported international assistance in Africa.
According to UN data, about 7.2 million Nigerians are currently benefiting from programs coordinated through these organizations, particularly in healthcare, reproductive health, humanitarian response in conflict-affected areas, and climate adaptation initiatives.
Several Northern states that are still recovering from the Boko Haram insurgency rely heavily on UN-coordinated aid for food security, nutrition, and protection programs.
Also, UNFPA-supported reproductive health services reach millions of women across the country, while climate-related bodies help address flooding and drought impacting agriculture in northern regions.
Reacting to the decision of Trump to pull the U.S out of the 66 global agencies, Dr. Aminu Magashi, coordinator of the Africa Health Budget Network told the press that: “The U.S. has been a major donor to many of these agencies.
“Withdrawal means potential funding gaps that could affect vaccination drives, maternal health services, and support for displaced persons in the northeast.”
Despite a potential aid disruption the White House defended the decision as part of a broader effort to “restore American sovereignty”.
“President Trump is ending U.S. participation in international organisations that undermine America’s independence and waste taxpayer dollars on ineffective or hostile agendas,” the statement said.
“American taxpayers have spent billions on these organisations with little return, while they often criticise U.S. policies, advance agendas contrary to our values, or waste taxpayer dollars by purporting to address important issues but not achieving any real results”, the statement added.
Here is a full list of the 66 organisations the US has withdrawn from
UN ORGANISATIONS
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) — Economic Commission for Africa
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
International Law Commission
International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
International Trade Centre
Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
Peacebuilding Commission
Peacebuilding Fund
Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
UN Alliance of Civilizations
UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
UN Conference on Trade and Development
UN Democracy Fund
UN Energy
UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
UN Human Settlements Programme
UN Institute for Training and Research
UN Oceans
UN Population Fund
UN Register of Conventional Arms
UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
UN System Staff College
UN Water
UN University
NON-UN ORGANISATIONS
24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
Colombo Plan Council
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Education Cannot Wait
European Centre of Excellence for Countering
Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
Freedom Online Coalition
Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund
Global Counterterrorism Forum
Global Forum on Cyber Expertise
Global Forum on Migration and Development
Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
International Cotton Advisory Committee
International Development Law Organization
International Energy Forum
International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
International Lead and Zinc Study Group
International Renewable Energy Agency
International Solar Alliance
International Tropical Timber Organization
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Pan American Institute of Geography and History
Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation
Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
Regional Cooperation Council
Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
Science and Technology Center in Ukraine
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
