On Monday, the US huge aid authority closed USAID.
The message was surprising to many – but on the Swedish side there has been a difference ever since Trump took over the White House.
– Over the past two weeks we have had a very hard time getting in touch, and in recent times we have not succeeded at all, says Annika Otterstedt, Head of Department at Sida.
President Trump has said that the authority was ruled by “a bunch of radical crazy boilers”, while his “efficiency manager” Elon Musk called USAID “a criminal organization”.
Last year, the country accounted for 42 percent of all humanitarian aid that the UN registered. But on Monday, the Aid Authority was bumped again – in a step to cut down the US state apparatus.
The decision can have major consequences worldwide.
– The United States is an extremely large partner and probably the most important aid actor in the world. It is clear that if you then change your direction or pull down the support, it will have an immediate impact on the people we want to see in the first place to have a better life in many parts of the world, says Annika Otterstedt, Head of Department at Sida.
Page: becomes a major impact
In recent weeks, the Swedish aid authority has noticed a difference in contact with its US counterpart.
Until yesterday, however, there was a contact – even though it was swaying since Trump took over power.
For many years, Sida and USAID have been conducting a variety of partnerships, including issues of democracy and human rights, but also in terms of environment and digitalisation.
In addition, they have funded several different projects in African and Latin American countries.
– In all cases, it will be a major impact, not least for the results we want to achieve, says Annika Otterstedt.
10,000 employees work -exempt
After the message, Sida has begun to prepare for a reality without USAID.
– We review all our agreements at all different levels. We work feverishly, because there are quite a few countries around the world that we have to contact, says Annika Otterstedt.
The employees at USAID have been thrown out of internal computer systems, while guards met them outside the office in Washington on Monday.
It has not yet been communicated how it will go to purely legally to get the federal authority – with over 10,000 employees and a budget of almost half a trillion SEK – to close down without the congressional permission.