USAID WITHDRAWAL IN AFRICA: A META-ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITES

This review synthesizes studies conducted on the economic, healthcare, and educationdifficulties and opportunities in the aftermath of USAID withdrawal in Africa todiscuss the complex effects of donor exit on the institutional and socio-economicsystems. The review assessed economic implications, benchmark adaptations tohealthcare systems, determine the weak spots of education, examine alternativefinancing structures, and compare policy reactions after the USAID exit. A mixedmethod investigations in sub-Saharan Africa, which were composed of econometric,qualitative, and policy examinations were used. Evidence shows that the difficultiesof USAID withdrawal include moderate economic growth and fiscal gaps but theresilience of health systems relies on the sustainable domestic financing, corruptionreduction, and reinforced infrastructure. The effects of education sector areunderstudied yet may imply indirect interference related to health crises and reveal thenecessity to harmonize health-educational investments. Innovative financing systemsprovide some very important opportunities to decrease the dependence on donors,depending on the political and institutional preparedness. Policy frameworks focus onbetter governance and multi-sector strategies, and evaluations of actions about theeffectiveness of reforms are rare. The findings cumulatively support the need toemploy a peculiar-sensitive design with integrated strategies to maintain health andeducation gains through a donor transition. The review guides policy and strategic actions to prepare sustainable domestic resource and institutional capacity needed toameliorate negative economic and social impacts after the withdrawal of USAID inAfrica.