Name: The impact of the dismantling of U.S. Foreign Humanitarian and Economic Assistance in Southeast Asia
Start: 2025-03-12T19:00:00+07:00
Location: Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand - FCCT

The impact of the dismantling of U.S. Foreign Humanitarian and Economic Assistance in Southeast Asia

Over the past two weeks, nearly all U.S. foreign assistance programs implemented by USAID and other U.S. agencies have been cancelled, following an initial 90-day freeze. The abrupt dismantling of these programs has devastated critical humanitarian and development efforts in Southeast Asia—from healthcare, to refugee support, to economic development, and action on climate and clean energy. Health workers are stranded, aid distribution has collapsed, and life-saving projects have been forced to shut down.
So, what now? How have non-profits and private companies that relied on USAID assistance responded? And what role can the international community play in mitigating the fallout?
Although US foreign aid is undergoing a pause and review, organizations worldwide cannot afford to halt their work. Peers from non-profit organizations have actively responded to financial and international cooperation challenges to sustain efforts in climate change, humanitarian aid and other public welfare initiatives.
Thus, this is a critical moment to host a discussion on the effect of the US Federal funding freeze in Southeast Asia and how to address it. The goal is to explore ways to move forward and effectively communicate the urgency of the issue to the public.
How do experts in this field see the effects and challenges in Southeast Asia? How are the non-profits that responded and tried to address the problems and what roles of other governments and international society can play? Join us in the FCCT clubhouse to hear from:
Panelists:
Leon de Riedmatten, executive director, The Border Consortium.
Patrick Phongsathorn, senior advocacy specialist, Fortify Rights.
Klaus Dik Nielsen, co-secretary general Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network.
Dee Lee, founder Inno Community Development Organization, president-elect of World Hepatitis Alliance.
Moderator: Peter T. du Pont, co-founder and co-CEO, co-convenor of CDx.
This is not an FCCT-organized event.
Free and open. Food and beverages will be available before the event.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand - FCCT, มาย ออฟฟิศ เอ-เพย์ ประเทศไทย, ถนน เพลินจิต, ปทุมวัน, กรุงเทพมหานคร, กรุงเทพมหานคร 10330, ประเทศไทย,Bangkok, Thailand