Maldives will be among the countries most affected if U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds are suspended.
US President Donald Trump has agreed to shut down USAID, his adviser Elon Musk announced yesterday. USAID headquarters was also closed today, and access have been cut off for its staff.
Last year, USAID disbursed USD 4.8 million (MVR 74 million) to various projects in Maldives. The agency also funded government projects and private associations. USAID supports Maldives' national security, anti-drug and anti-terrorism initiatives, as well as environmental projects and disaster assistance efforts.
USAID is also the largest donor for private parties in Maldives outside the Maldivian government.
According to official figures, by 2023, USAID had agreed to provide USD 20 million (MVR 308 million) in assistance. That year, USD 10.4 million (MVR 160 million) was provided, marking the largest aid package from USAID in a single year.
The second-largest was in 2011, when USD 13.6 million (MVR 209 million) was pledged, and USD 13.5 million (MVR 208 million) was disbursed.
USAID has been providing assistance to Maldives since 2001.
Afghanistan receives the highest amount of USAID funding in the Asian region, with an allocation of USD 750 million (MVR 11.5 billion) last year. Jordan, USAID’s largest aid recipient, received USD 1.3 billion (MVR 20 billion) in the same period.
USAID spent USD 30 billion globally last year, with a budget of USD 43 billion allocated for this year. While approximately 25 countries receive assistance under special priority, USAID has provided aid at various levels to more than 170 countries.