Can you sum up what has happened over the last few months regarding USAID and the current situation?
“In late January, the new US administration decided to suspend all international development funding. A month later, over 10,000 projects were terminated. The US State Department supported six of Cord’s projects. In March we learned that funding for four of these projects was being terminated with immediate effect. This meant a loss of approximately $2 million for Cord over the next three years, leaving significant gaps in our budget.
It looks as though the Foreign Aid Review has now been completed, and that they will continue to fund two of our projects. However, we’re aware that other projects are still being terminated, so there is an element of uncertainty.”
How has Cord responded to these decisions? Have some projects had to be closed or scaled down?
“We had no choice but to close down the four projects where funding was terminated. This meant making some staff redundant, ending contracts with partners, and in the Philippines, closing down the new office that we had only just opened.
We’ve also worked very closely with the Board of Trustees; looking at the financial impact and cutting some of our costs for the rest of 2025. The result is that some things we had planned for the rest of this year have had to be put on hold.
Now that the situation is a little clearer, we are confident that Cord can navigate this situation and continue with our vision and mission. But, in the short term, we will be a slightly smaller organisation.”
Our emergency appeal has become one of the most successful in Cord’s history. What is your message to all those who donated?
“We’ve been absolutely blown away by people’s overwhelming generosity and I want to say a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart. We have never had an appeal like it! Raising over £47,000 is incredible. We also thoroughly appreciated the many messages of support that people sent with their donations – they provided such encouragement!
As well as the difference this money will make, there’s also a very powerful sense of solidarity; of knowing that people are with us on this journey. The commitment and belief that supporters have shown in the work of Cord is truly remarkable and affirming. People are with us and standing by us through this very challenging time and that’s a huge boost to the whole team.”
How has the money raised helped Cord to navigate this difficult time? What would the situation be like without this outpouring of generosity?
“In the short term, the appeal response has given us more options. It means we don’t have to make as many cuts and we can continue with our core activities. It has provided us with the opportunity to plan for the future. We now have the time and space to consider the shape of the organisation and think through our mix of projects.
The situation would feel much more bleak, if we didn’t know that so many people were standing with us. These have been really testing times for Cord’s leadership and staff. The US administration has decided that a number of the things that we work on, including women’s empowerment and climate change, are no longer priorities for them. That has been hard for our country teams and partner organisations. But, having this vote of confidence in our work, knowing that people still believe in what we are doing and the values we hold dear, really does encourage us to keep going during this challenging period.”
Will this experience affect the way Cord seeks funding for projects in the future?
“The funding process is increasingly fragile and volatile. In the past, when we had a contract and grant agreement in place, we could feel very confident. But now, there are more risks involved. Therefore, over the last few years, we’ve been looking to diversify our range of funders so that we’re not reliant on just one or two.
This means we’re less affected by big political changes. This is one of the things that has helped us to navigate this current situation; having funders apart from the US. So, moving forward, it will be critical to keep that range of funders, connect with others who want to support values-based work, and build relationships with like-minded organisations who share our vision.”
How have you coped personally during this time?
“It’s been an incredibly tough period for me as CEO; one of the hardest I’ve experienced whilst leading Cord. It feels like a blur as I look back on those months from January to May. There were many long days, waking up not knowing what news we’d be facing, and ending the day speaking to colleagues from the US State Department and joining court hearings online to find out what was happening in the bigger picture.
The uncertainty was one of the hardest things; not knowing how our projects would be affected and the ramifications for partners and communities. Leading people through such uncertainty without being able to provide the clarity that people desperately wanted was so difficult.
I had to put my trust in God and believe that He would guide us through these challenges. I also went back to our values, considering how we could double down on them and act in a way that we could be proud of, when we were under pressure and having our integrity challenged.
That’s how we’ve navigated this time but I’m so glad we’re coming out on the other side! I’m so grateful to have amazing staff, together with a Board of Trustees who have provided brilliant support by forming a crisis management team. The Trustees have helped so much and it’s been so good to pray with them on a regular basis over the last few months.”
What are your feelings as you look forward to the rest of 2025 and beyond?
“Although the funding picture looks very challenging, with other governments, including our own, making similar cuts, I feel very hopeful. This is because I believe our work has tremendous worth and brings about long-term change. We have an extremely important role to play. For the second half of this year we’ll be redoubling our efforts, with our partners, in the communities where we work, because our mission is more important than ever.
Also, as an organisation grounded in clear values, inspired by the Christian faith, we believe we have something deeply important to offer to an increasingly divided world. We want to use our voice to speak into situations where hope is scarce. I’m convinced that we can offer a hope and confidence that change is possible; that people can live together peacefully, thrive, and access their rights, even in the most challenging circumstances.”
