Having the programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended may reduce the total amount of humanitarian assistance provided to Ukrainian water utility companies by 20%.
The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Association of Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprises ‘Ukrvodokanalekologia’ President Dmytro Novytskyi in a commentary to Ukrinform.
“The termination of USAID funding may indeed impact humanitarian projects in the water sector. According to the preliminary estimates, this may reduce overall assistance to Ukrainian water utilities by approximately 20%,” Novytskyi told.
In his words, water utility companies do not receive direct assistance from USAID, but this organization used to support projects on improving the energy sustainability of certain enterprises. This includes the supply of cogeneration plants and generators that help ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure.
At the same time, as mentioned by Novytskyi, reduced USAID funding may influence large-scale support. Currently, Ukrainian water utility companies receive assistance through coordinating international platforms, in particular WASH Cluster Ukraine, which had been established by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
According to Novytskyi, the above platform brings together a wide range of donor organizations, including USAID, the Red Cross, UNICEF, SDC, IOM, and GIZ. Its focus areas are restoring access to clean water, repairing sewage infrastructure, and supporting centralized heating.
“It is important to understand that the stability of water utility companies directly depends on international support, and this topic remains the focus of the work of specialized associations and the government,” Novytskyi explained.
As noted by the expert, despite reduced USAID funding, the search for new sources of international assistance continues. Among other things, this refers to strengthening cooperation with other international organizations and financial institutions to minimize risks to the water supply of Ukrainian cities.
A reminder that, on January 20, 2025, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending all foreign aid programs for 90 days pending reviews. Later, Trump called for the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) over corruption and fraud.
