Publication Date
Spring 2025
Abstract
Following a series of executive orders administered by the Trump administration in January 2025, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID abruptly withdrew from Morocco, leaving an impact on education and development. Using qualitative methods, including six semi-structured interviews with USAID personnel, partners, and local NGOs, the study captures the personal, financial, and operational effects of this sudden cessation. The paper highlights how USAID's localized, inclusive approach had catalyzed significant educational initiatives and collaborative development models, many of which were disrupted or completely dismantled. Key findings reveal that the termination of USAID activities not only jeopardized active programming—such as the Bridge to Middle School project—but also led to widespread job loss, institutional uncertainty, and damage to the U.S.'s image abroad. This study offers an early, human-centered reflection on the consequences of foreign aid withdrawal and argues for sustained, ethical, and locally grounded development efforts moving forward.
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Koss, Kathryn, "FROM HOPE TO FRUSTRATION: THE IMPACTS OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF USAID ON EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN MOROCCO" (2025). Morocco: Human Rights, Social Justice, and Cultural Transformation. 4.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/mor2/4