Immediately after taking office, newly elected US President Donald Trump froze all foreign aid the world over, including for development, health, and education, for 90 days to review the effectiveness of the assistance.
As a result, Egyptian university students and researchers who are studying using scholarships paid by the USAID have found themselves in limbo not knowing the ramifications of the decision on their studies.
According to the USAID Egypt website: “Over the past four decades, USAID has provided scholarships to more than 4,000 Egyptians to study at premier Egyptian and American universities in fields critical to Egypt’s sustained economic growth and development.”
USAID has served and empowered students with disabilities and promoted inclusion in higher education through the establishment of disability service centres at five Egyptian public universities, with plans to open 15 more.
But Trump’s decision has sparked widespread concern across academic circles, with many urging the government to find alternatives to sustain these vital programmes.
Adel Abdel-Ghaffar, the spokesman of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the issue is being studied and that measures will be taken to safeguard the interests of affected students along with researchers. “The affected number of students is around 800 in universities of Cairo, Ain Shams, Alexandria, Assiut, Mansoura, Badr, Zuweil City for Science, Technology and Innovation, Al-Alamein International, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime, and the American University in Cairo,” Abdel-Ghaffar said.
According to Abdel-Ghaffar, USAID grants focus on university education in fields including water, energy, agriculture and nursing to support Egypt’s aspirations for social and economic development as well as environmental responsibility. The grants also provide opportunities for advanced education in the fields of science, creativity and knowledge, in addition to providing opportunities for scientific research that can have a beneficial and effective impact on students.
One student wrote on social media that he found out about the freeze during a workshop for the beneficiaries of the AUC programme “Egyptian Pioneers and Scholars”. During the session, representatives of the USAID told them that they might need to consider either bearing the cost of their education or revert to their government-provided educational opportunities. They also admitted to having no additional information.
Some students said they believed that the suspension does not just affect them individually but also jeopardises Egypt’s long-term development goals. “The scholarship programmes were designed to prepare a skilled workforce to support Egypt’s Vision 2030 initiative. Without these opportunities, the development of human capital essential for the country’s progress may be hindered,” another university student told the Weekly.
In their social media posts, students appealed to government authorities and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to intervene immediately to address the crisis. They also urged support from businessmen to help them finish their studies. “We ask the government and private sector to stand by us during this critical time,” said one student.
USAID’s office in Cairo has not issued any official statement regarding the suspension of grants.
“The ministry is still assessing the situation to ensure that students and research projects affected by the decision are supported. The decision was a shock to everyone and nothing yet is clear. The coming days will likely determine whether we will be able to lessen the impact of this unexpected decision,” Abdel-Ghaffar added.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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