June 13, 2025
Five lessons from Eritrea’s self-reliance in an era of global aid cuts
By: Nahla Valji
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Eritrea,
Eritrea has been deliberate in ensuring that external assistance aligns with its national priorities, a position that has ensured it retains greater control over its development agenda rather than react to shifting donor priorities. The developing world is facing a serious funding challenge. While the current crisis has been triggered by deep and sudden US aid cuts, it reflects a broader trend of declining official development assistance (ODA) in recent years. This moment is prompting a reassessment of the aid model itself—particularly its tendency to foster structural dependency. Countries long reliant on external support are now being forced to…
