Unlock Aid

?? Time is running out. A lower court ruled the Trump Administration must still spend billions in approved funding by September 30. That’s why we issued a $1 billion challenge to Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week — spend money for life-saving health programs already approved by Congress, but do aid differently: ? Fund frontline organizations directly ? Pay for real results, not activities ? Scale proven innovations that save lives faster ? Harness technology and innovation to deliver results faster ? Invest to build self-reliance Across Africa, Asia, and beyond, there are ready-to-scale partners — community health workers, faith groups, tech platforms, pharmacy networks, telehealth providers, mobile money providers — who just need a fair shot. Now is the moment to act:? ?? Help us build momentum: ?? Share this post ?? Use hashtag #AidWeWant to tell leaders we need a new standard for U.S. global engagement ?? Get involved in our efforts to shape the future of U.S. foreign assistance: https://lnkd.in/gRxcbUQS Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g74C6HQp #AidReimagined #AidWeWant #GlobalHealth CC: U.S. Department of State

?? BREAKING: Yesterday, we called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a $1 billion challenge in the Miami Herald: Restart lifesaving programs - but reimagine how we deliver aid. With billions in approved funding that must be spent by September 30th, we're calling for a radically different approach: ? Pay for verified results, not promises (provide up-front funding to get started with subsequent payments tied to results delivered) ? Fund frontline organizations directly, cutting out middlemen? ? Harness innovation to deliver faster, more cost-effective solutions? ? Build genuine self-reliance and partnerships from day one This isn't about small tweaks to an outdated system. It's about saving lives in days and weeks, not months and years. This proposal is something Secretary Rubio can announce immediately because we don't need to start from scratch. Across the globe, there are organizations ready to get to work on the basis of delivering results. In countries like Ghana and Kenya, for example, the U.S. government could partner with: ?? Local community health workers and faith groups that already provide essential care to millions every day. ?? Private pharmacy networks, tele-health companies, and direct-to-consumer healthcare platforms that use market-based solutions to deliver medicines and tests. ?? Modern logistics companies that use fast, transparent supply chains to get medicines where they're needed with 99% on-time delivery. ?? Mobile money providers that enable secure, instant, and traceable payments. ?? World-class tech platforms to help decision-makers rapidly collect and analyze data, and to determine how to allocate life-saving resources in real time. These organizations know their communities and have proven business models that work. But they've too often been left out of U.S. aid programs because the system wasn't designed with them in mind. Worse, traditional aid has frequently displaced opportunities for this new generation of organizations to have a bigger and more sustainable impact. The solution is simple: Go directly to proven partners, set clear goals, help them scale their impact, and get accountability by paying them when they deliver results. Set ambitious, time-bound goals to transition funding for these programs locally through host government health systems or as self-sustaining businesses. Join our #AidWeWant campaign and help us reshape U.S. global engagement. Lives hang in the balance. Read more about our plan here: https://lnkd.in/gMyxvFF3 #AidReimagined #AidWeWant CC: U.S. Department of State

? When will the whiplash end? Recent judicial developments in U.S. foreign aid have left critical organizations in limbo, and the uncertainty continues to jeopardize lives, health, and stability worldwide. Some of the most impactful frontline organizations are still without essential funding, putting vital relief efforts at risk. That's why we launched the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund last month—to act quickly and respond to the urgent needs of organizations delivering lifesaving relief around the globe, see more at https://lnkd.in/gHsSeSeH. ?? In just over a month, your response has been incredible. Thanks to your support, we've raised more than $1.3 million and made 10 emergency awards, with more on the way this week. But there’s still much more to do. Now is your chance to join us. We'll be sharing an update on the Fund and its plans going forward during our 2nd Mobilization and Donor Update Call next Thursday, March 27th at 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST. You'll hear from: ? Organizations receiving awards on the importance of this funding ? Donors on their rationale for getting involved early? ? Our leadership on plans for the future Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gYjrTUWD We don’t have time to waste. Join us as we work to ensure the most critical work around the world continues to move forward. ?? Learn more about how to support frontline organizations through our fund, Founders Pledge Rapid Response Fund, and GiveDirectly in this insightful piece from Vox’s Future Perfect and we hope you will join us next week!

??The The New York Times Highlights Our Call to Reimagine U.S. Foreign Aid The New York Times just said what we've been saying all along: America’s foreign aid system needs a reimagining. "Aid as we know it is gone... adjusting to the new reality means approaching aid in a radically different way," writes Farah Stockman, who highlights Unlock Aid's work. She links to our New American Foreign Partnership Standard to reimagine how the United States works with the rest of the world. In the wake of the U.S. foreign aid freeze, our #AidWeWant campaign advocates for new model of U.S. engagement that: ? Promotes economic growth, jobs, and health, benefiting both America and partner countries ? Focuses on measurable results, not process with clear accountability for impact ? Invests directly in local leadership rather than funding layers of middlemen ? Requires strategic exits and self-reliance with clear transitions to local ownership ? Leverages innovation and technology to deliver faster results at lower costs ?? Read our full New American Foreign Partnership Standard here: https://lnkd.in/duXkaT-x ? This is a critical moment. The decisions that our leaders make in the weeks to come will shape the future of U.S. engagement with the world for decades. ?? Join our campaign: Help us shape what comes next: ?https://lnkd.in/dzqCtrfA P.S. We also appreciate the NYT's shout-out to donate to our Foreign Aid Bridge Fund! Give your support today for high-impact, frontline organizations by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gPCbrYTC #AidWeWant #AidReimagined https://lnkd.in/eqJM4w2n

??The The New York Times Highlights Our Call to Reimagine U.S. Foreign Aid The New York Times just said what we've been saying all along: America’s foreign aid system needs a reimagining. "Aid as we know it is gone... adjusting to the new reality means approaching aid in a radically different way," writes Farah Stockman, who highlights Unlock Aid's work. She links to our New American Foreign Partnership Standard to reimagine how the United States works with the rest of the world. In the wake of the U.S. foreign aid freeze, our #AidWeWant campaign advocates for new model of U.S. engagement that: ? Promotes economic growth, jobs, and health, benefiting both America and partner countries ? Focuses on measurable results, not process with clear accountability for impact ? Invests directly in local leadership rather than funding layers of middlemen ? Requires strategic exits and self-reliance with clear transitions to local ownership ? Leverages innovation and technology to deliver faster results at lower costs ?? Read our full New American Foreign Partnership Standard here: https://lnkd.in/duXkaT-x ? This is a critical moment. The decisions that our leaders make in the weeks to come will shape the future of U.S. engagement with the world for decades. ?? Join our campaign: Help us shape what comes next: ?https://lnkd.in/dzqCtrfA P.S. We also appreciate the NYT's shout-out to donate to our Foreign Aid Bridge Fund! Give your support today for high-impact, frontline organizations by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gPCbrYTC #AidWeWant #AidReimagined https://lnkd.in/eqJM4w2n

??The The New York Times Highlights Our Call to Reimagine U.S. Foreign Aid The New York Times just said what we've been saying all along: America’s foreign aid system needs a reimagining. "Aid as we know it is gone... adjusting to the new reality means approaching aid in a radically different way," writes Farah Stockman, who highlights Unlock Aid's work. She links to our New American Foreign Partnership Standard to reimagine how the United States works with the rest of the world. In the wake of the U.S. foreign aid freeze, our #AidWeWant campaign advocates for new model of U.S. engagement that: ? Promotes economic growth, jobs, and health, benefiting both America and partner countries ? Focuses on measurable results, not process with clear accountability for impact ? Invests directly in local leadership rather than funding layers of middlemen ? Requires strategic exits and self-reliance with clear transitions to local ownership ? Leverages innovation and technology to deliver faster results at lower costs ?? Read our full New American Foreign Partnership Standard here: https://lnkd.in/duXkaT-x ? This is a critical moment. The decisions that our leaders make in the weeks to come will shape the future of U.S. engagement with the world for decades. ?? Join our campaign: Help us shape what comes next: ?https://lnkd.in/dzqCtrfA P.S. We also appreciate the NYT's shout-out to donate to our Foreign Aid Bridge Fund! Give your support today for high-impact, frontline organizations by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gPCbrYTC #AidWeWant #AidReimagined https://lnkd.in/eqJM4w2n

?? Cutting off life-saving aid with no plan is unacceptable. The tragic stories highlighted in The New York Times this week — including children who died because they lost access to HIV medication — show the human impact of the U.S. foreign aid freeze. Elon Musk claims that "no one has died" from these cuts. That is not true. Children are dying, and more will follow unless action is taken. The #AidWeWant campaign is about ensuring that America’s role in global engagement is smarter, more sustainable, and driven by real partnerships. That's why we’ve proposed a new set of standards for smarter U.S. global engagement — principles that ensure the U.S. invests in solutions that help countries build resilient systems for the long term, including to insulate them from the political winds of any one international capital. Nick Kristof and the Center for Global Development did important work to bring these frontline stories and critical data to light — exposing the devastating impact these cuts are having. We must move forward with a smarter, future-focused approach — because what’s happening now is both unacceptable and avoidable. Read more about our proposed standards here: https://lnkd.in/gdPKDHtq #AidWeWant

"As we continue providing essential services in Ethiopia, this emergency funding is a lifeline that ensures the continuity of our HIV-related services, protecting the health and well-being of the communities we serve. In times of crisis, sustaining care is not just essential—it’s lifesaving.” This, from Yonas Mamo Zewude of alignAfrica, a Foreign Aid Bridge Fund Grant Recipient alignAfrica is one of nearly 500 organizations that have reached out to the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund, seeking financial support when their USAID funding stopped. To continue providing life saving services is not a "nice to have." It's a must. In under a month, the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund has secured $650,000 from more than 200 donors, which has allowed us to provide grants to incredible organizations around the world. But there is more we can do. We estimate at least $5 million is needed in the next 30 days to respond to the other organizations we've heard from. Please join us in helping ensure critically important health, food security, refugee support and other basic needs?are met around the world. Donate today and keep your eyes peeled for our next mobilization call and update, March 27. https://lnkd.in/gPCbrYTC

??Moving Beyond Outdated Choices U.S. investments around the world matter—a lot. Not just for the communities they support abroad, but for the jobs, health, and security they safeguard here at home. The current debate about the future of U.S. foreign aid is trapped in a false, binary choice: either defend the status quo or drastically cut funding. This oversimplified framing serves neither American interests nor those of our partners around the world. We believe there's a better alternative: a third path. ?? Two years ago, we launched a global listening tour engaging hundreds of innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, diaspora groups, national security experts, and faith communities across the United States and around the world. We asked a fundamental question: If we could start over, what would we do differently? This wasn't theoretical planning. It was preparation. Last year, we warned in Foreign Policy that, if elected, President Trump would likely attempt to eliminate U.S. foreign aid. We urged proponents to develop a better model rather than simply opposing changes. ?? Today, we're proud to announce Aid Reimagined: The New American Foreign Partnership Standard — our blueprint for the #AidWeWant that offers a third path forward. Instead of outdated, top-down aid models, we're advocating for a new standard rooted in investment, partnership, and economic opportunity. This is the model communities worldwide have told us they want — and it’s the best way to advance shared prosperity. ?? Read more about our vision for the future of U.S. global engagement in our latest Substack post. #AidWeWant #AidReimagined #FutureofForeignPolicy CC: U.S. Department of State

?? Breaking News: Unlock Aid Unveils 'Aid Reimagined: The New American Foreign Partnership Standard' ?? Today, we're proud to release Aid Reimagined: The New American Foreign Partnership Standard — a new standard informed by a two-year global listening tour engaging hundreds of social innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, diaspora groups, national security experts, and faith communities across the United States and around the world. In an open letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Unlock Aid—a coalition of 100+ organizations—outlined six bold standards for smarter, results-driven partnerships that deliver maximum impact for both U.S. citizens and global partners. Advancing What Works ? Promote Jobs & Economic Growth ? Protect Public Health ? Invest in Innovation, Scale What Works ? Drive Mutually-Beneficial Partnerships ? Prioritize Results Over Process ? Require Strategic Exits, Self-Reliance Stopping What Doesn’t Work ? Stop Programs Without Clear Transitions ? Stop Bureaucratic Barriers ? Stop Low-Impact Projects ? Stop Top-Down Programs ? Stop Funding Middlemen These new standards are designed to deliver real impact—accelerating global progress while ensuring every taxpayer dollar works harder for American families. It's time to end the binary debate about whether to provide aid or cut it altogether. Instead, let's chart a new path forward—one that reflects the #AidWeWant. Read our press release here: https://lnkd.in/eNrewqPe Read our letter to U.S. Department of State Secretary Rubio here: https://lnkd.in/eGQtMbKj #AidWeWant #AidReimagined U.S. Department of State House Committee on Foreign Affairs United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations U.S. House Appropriations Committee