EU must urgently fund disability organisations affected by US aid cuts
A group of European disability organisations and services are calling on the European Union and non-governmental donors to provide emergency funding to disability organisations affected by the cuts in US Government funding. The statement, led by the European Disability Forum and the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities and signed by 4 of the organisations affected, calls on the EU and donors to step up with both emergency and long-term funding.
The signatories underline that these organisations were implementing lifesaving programmes in countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia or Albania and that the loss of funding will put at risk organisations and persons with disabilities in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and South Caucasus. The scale of the loss is staggering: a partial analysis of publicly available information points to funding of around 5 million US dollars in the last 3 years.
The signatories strongly condemn the sudden halt of funds by the US Administration that affects a broad spectrum of organisations. The loss of these programmes will leave hundreds of thousands without support and will pose a threat to the security of people in the region.
The letter calls on the European Commission, national governments and donors to urgently:
Step up in providing emergency and long-term funding to civil society and human rights groups.
Fund and develop inclusive and intersectional programs.
Recognise the value of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and development assistance programmes and actively fight misinformation and disinformation.
Ensure disability inclusion is mainstreamed within all EU humanitarian aid and funding mechanisms.
Gunta Anca, Vice-President of the European Disability Forum, said:
"This chaos endangers the lives of persons with disabilities in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus. The EU must step up to save their lives and ensure that this absence of solidarity doesn’t open the doors for others to exploit their vulnerability."
Thomas Bignal, Secretary General of the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities stated:
"The damage that these cuts will cause goes far beyond simply “project finances”. They severely impact the operational capacity of these civil society organisations to provide essential support in the medium and long run, too. It breaks the support system itself.”
Below you can find details of the programmes affected by this stop-work order.
Supporting Documents
Examples of programs terminated
Support for People with Disabilities in Wartime
Beneficiaries affected: 570 people in Chernihiv, Kirovohrad and Kharkiv regions.
Description of the initiative: The program was supposed to assist persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons by providing lifesaving assistive devices, digital education and professional legal aid.
150 persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons would receive lifesaving assistive devices. 180 people would be trained in digital skills to access critical online services. 60 people would receive professional legal aid and 180 professionals (medical and social workers and educators) would undergo training. The program was also supporting advocacy to reform disability assessments to meet international standards. Over 17 staff members are affected.
Implementing organisation: League of the Strong
Granting organisation: USAID; Status: Terminated
Funding: 373 303 dollars
Timeline: 2024 - 2026
Adaptive sports and rehabilitation of people with disabilities, including war veterans
Beneficiaries affected: 450 war veterans with disabilities
Description of the initiative: The program was supposed to assist war veterans with disabilities by providing a host of services including: mental health services and therapy; educational training and career advisors; adaptive sports and the creation of a co-working space for veterans.
The project was scheduled to being on 15 February and support activities throughout the year. There is currently no alternative funding for these types of necessary services.
Implementing organisation: Zakarpattia Regional Organization of the Federation of Sports for Persons with Disabilities with Musculoskeletal Disorders
Funding: 35 000 dollars
Granting organisation: USAID; Status: Terminated
Timeline: February 2024 – August 2024
Education and employment of persons with disabilities
Beneficiaries affected: 90 persons with disabilities
Description of the initiative: The initiative would develop a training and education program in three specialities and create a directory of 90 jobseekers.
Implementing organisation: Charitable Foundation AIK
Granting organisation: USAID; Status: Terminated
Funding: 100 000 dollars (80% of the organisations budget)
Timeline: January 2024 - 2026
For more information, please contact:
Thomas Bignal
Secretary General
thomas.bignal(a)easpd.eu
+32 22 38 39 20
André Félix
Communications Manager – European Disability Forum
Note to editors:
The European Disability Forum is an umbrella organisation of persons with disabilities that defends the interests of over 100 million persons with disabilities in Europe.
The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities represents over 20,000 support services for persons with disabilities across Europe.
The National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) groups 120 public organisations are the members of disabilities from all regions of Ukraine. NAPD includes DPOs that represent people with different disabilities and health conditions, DPOs of women with disabilities, DPOs run by parents of children with disabilities, and others.
The League of the Strong is a public union founded by 6 organisations working in the field of persons with disabilities.
The Coalition for Independent Living (CIL) is the largest disability rights organisation in Georgia bringing together 26 national and regional disability organisations including parents and women with disabilities
Down Syndrome Albania is the association of parents of children and adults with Down Syndrome and people with Down Syndrome in Albania.