Former USAID health chief documents agency’s turbulent end in new book Former USAID health chief documents agency’s turbulent end in new book

Nicholas Enrich — former top global health official at USAID turned whistleblower — details the internal chaos that ensued during the rapid destruction of the agency in the months following U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Nicholas Enrich: A Top Official’s Account of USAID’s Dismantling A Devex Pro conversation with a USAID whistleblower.

I'll be moderating a discussion with him about his book on April 20th: www.devex.com/events/nicho...

Former USAID health chief documents agency’s turbulent end in new book Nicholas Enrich — former top global health official at USAID turned whistleblower — details the internal chaos that ensued during the rapid destruction of the agency in the months following U.S. Presi...

The former global health lead at USAID, Nicholas Enrich, is pulling back the curtain on the internal chaos that ensued during the rapid destruction of the agency in his new book.

“We were digging graves — our own, and those for millions of others,” he writes.

www.devex.com/news/former-...

CPJ calls on Kuwaiti authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Kuwaiti-American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, detained under new security and fake news laws.

Read more: cpj.org/2026/04/cpj-...

#FreeAhmed #FreeAhmedEldin

Africa CDC recruited Dr. Mariatou Tala Jallow to build up its African Pooled Procurement Mechanism. In her previous job, she built the pooled procurement mechanism for the Global Fund from the ground up. www.devex.com/news/the-glo...

Trump's budget request calls for 30% cut to foreign affairs spending Global health, humanitarian assistance, food aid and international organizations are all targeted for cuts, with the America First Opportunity Fund and support for critical minerals on the rise.

Trump is seeking a 30% cut to the foreign affairs budget, according to a preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget request. The budget includes $5.1 billion for global health, a $4.3 billion cut from what Congress approved in 2026. By Adva Saldinger: www.devex.com/news/trump-s...

Primary care is failing chronic respiratory disease patients, experts warn Primary health care workers are often not trained on these diseases, lack diagnostic tools, and medicines. But these diseases, such as asthma and COPD, lead to some 4 million deaths annually.

Experts say primary health care systems in low-and-middle income countries are ill-equipped to handle chronic respiratory diseases. Health care workers are often not trained on these diseases, lack diagnostic tools, and medicines. www.devex.com/news/primary...

Health orgs warn of ‘dangerous’ supply shortages amid Middle East crisis The global health sector is warning that Israel and the United States’ war against Iran is creating major supply route disruptions for critical humanitarian supplies, including life-saving health prod...

The global health sector is warning that Israel and the United States’ war against Iran is creating major supply route disruptions for critical life-saving health products: www.devex.com/news/health-...

GFF to launch family planning, maternal, child commodity finance program The Global Financing Facility is planning to launch a new financing program for family planning, and maternal and child health commodities at the bank’s Spring Meetings next month. It previewed how it...

The Global Financing Facility is planning to launch a new financing program for family planning, and maternal and child health commodities at the bank’s Spring Meetings this month. It previewed how it is expected to work last week in Nairobi: www.devex.com/news/gff-to-...

Join | Devex Whether you're looking to break into development for the first time, searching for your next position or exploring new ways to grow professionally, Devex is the right platform for your job search.

Flagging our special deal on Devex Career Accounts: 75% off an annual membership. Offer ends tomorrow: www.devex.com/upgrade/paym...

Special edition: Moving mother and child health ‘into the fast lane’ Special edition: Moving mother and child health ‘into the fast lane’

Some 1,800 maternal and child health experts from at least 87 countries gathered in Nairobi this week to discuss improving care and saving lives. A lot of the conversation was around ensuring essential commodities hit the shelves of health facilities.

AfDB, Gates propose boosting government liquidity for health products The African Development Bank, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, has previewed a proposed plan for a new financing facility for health commodities on the African continent.

The African Development Bank plans to partner with the Gates Foundation and other donors to increase access to affordable loans for countries to quickly buy essential health commodities. The plans — still subject to approval — were previewed last week in Nairobi: www.devex.com/news/afdb-ga...

Special edition: Moving mother and child health ‘into the fast lane’ Some 1,800 maternal and child health experts from at least 87 countries gathered in Nairobi this week to discuss improving care and saving lives. A lot of the conversation was around ensuring essentia...

I attended the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference in Nairobi this week. Here is my dispatch for @devex.com: www.devex.com/news/special...

Devex's @sarajerving.bsky.social is on the ground in Nairobi for the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference. As global health leaders gather to tackle the rising challenges of equity & access, Sara will be sharing updates & behind-the-scenes insights. Watch this space for her dispatches.

Devex CheckUp: The global health boy’s club Devex CheckUp: The global health boy’s club

Women leaders in global health share their stories around gaps in gender equity in the global health architecture. Plus, the State Department launches a new platform that invites NGOs to apply to support bilateral health deals, and Africa CDC turns to debt swaps.

Africa CDC eyes debt swaps to plug health financing gaps There’s one area considered a largely untapped resource for health finance on the African continent: converting debt into health programs. Africa CDC has hired a special adviser to guide the agency on...

There’s one area considered a largely untapped resource for health finance on the African continent: converting debt into funds for health programs. Africa CDC has hired a special adviser to guide the agency on scaling these transactions for countries. www.devex.com/news/africa-...

US launches $4.5B platform inviting NGO support for bilateral health deals The State Department launched a funding platform that gives insight into how the Trump administration plans to engage entities around global health. INGOs, local NGOs, faith-based organizations, compa...

The U.S. State Department launched a new platform that, for the first time, demonstrates how it will operationalize funding of global health projects outside of the bilateral health deals it’s signing with countries. Importantly, NGOs are eligible. www.devex.com/news/us-laun...

On March 9th, I'll be co-moderating an important discussion hosted by Women in Global Health on the state of women leadership in global health and the persistent gaps in women’s access to health services and how this impacts health outcomes. Please join us! lnkd.in/eDV3D3_X

Steep aid cuts put slow gains against female genital mutilation at risk In places where female genital mutilation is deeply embedded in local traditions, progress toward ending it is slow. Now, sharp cuts to foreign aid have hindered global efforts to eliminate FGM, inclu...

3)Foreign aid cuts hinder global efforts to end female genital mutilation. @sarajerving.bsky.social traveled to Kenya's Narok County to visit rescue homes & health facilities, documenting the stories of FGM and early marriage survivors and those fighting the practice.
www.devex.com/news/steep-a...

US State Department signs first Western Hemisphere bilateral health deal The U.S. will provide up to $22.5 million to Panama over the next three years, with Panama cofinancing the agreement by increasing its own health domestic spending by over $11 million during that time...

The US State Dept signed its first Western Hemisphere bilateral health deal: It will provide up to $22.5 million to Panama over the next 3 years, with Panama cofinancing the agreement with $11 million. www.devex.com/news/us-stat...

Demographic and Health Surveys reemerge with Gates funds after Trump cut But the program must chart a longer-term path towards sustainability with a leaner structure, smaller annual budget, and a greater use of technology.

Last year, the Trump administration cut funding for the Demographic and Health Surveys program after four decades of support. Now the program is back, with Gates Foundation as the largest donor. But the program must chart a new path towards sustainability.

www.devex.com/news/demogra...

WHO's Africa chief on why health system reform is a marathon Dr. Mohamed Janabi, the new regional director of the World Health Organization's office for Africa, outlined his vision for advancing health sovereignty for countries across the continent.

Last Friday, during a @devex.com Pro event, I spoke with Dr. Janabi, the new regional director of WHO's Africa Office @afro.who.int He told me health reform on the continent is a marathon. “I think what matters is that we are moving decisively to the right direction.”

www.devex.com/news/who-s-a...

Steep aid cuts put slow gains against female genital mutilation at risk In places where female genital mutilation is deeply embedded in local traditions, progress toward ending it is slow. Now, sharp cuts to foreign aid have hindered global efforts to eliminate FGM, inclu...

In places where female genital mutilation is deeply embedded in culture, progress toward ending it is slow. I visited Narok County, Kenya, where grassroots organizations are working to educate communities around its dangers and help girls escape it. devex.shorthandstories.com/steep-aid-cu...

WHO’s new Africa chief on strengthening the continent’s health security Navigating aid cuts and health reform in Africa with Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi.

On February 20th, I'll be speaking with Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the regional director of the World Health Organisation's Africa Office @afro.who.int on strengthening health security on the continent. Please join for this important conversation! Register here: www.devex.com/events/who-s...

A statement from Columbia Journalism School faculty on the federal raid of a @washingtonpost.com reporter’s home: journalism.columbia.edu/news/faculty-statement-w...

Unexpected global health wins in the US foreign aid bill U.S. lawmakers released a foreign assistance appropriations bill that allocates $9.4 billion for global health.

U.S. lawmakers released a foreign aid bill that contains some positive — and surprising — news for the global health community if passed into law. For example, while the Trump admin slashed family planning funds in its proposed budget, this bill includes it.
www.devex.com/news/unexpec...

US Congress backs Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, despite Trump admin cuts Six months ago the Trump administration said it would cut funding for Gavi but the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives included funding for it in its foreign assistance appropriations bill.

The U.S. Congress have included funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in their foreign aid bill. This is a welcome development for the global health community, given that six months ago, the Trump admin said it would cut all funding for the org.
www.devex.com/news/us-cong...

After a year of chaos, US CDC’s global health work hangs in the balance Staff cuts, loss of expertise, shuttered programs, and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization are worrying those who’ve invested deeply in the agency's decades-long work in global health.

Staff cuts, loss of expertise, shuttered programs, and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization are worrying those who’ve invested deeply in the U.S. CDC's decades-long work in global health. www.devex.com/news/after-a...

The key players in 'America First' foreign aid It hasn’t always been clear who is calling the shots in the new world of U.S. foreign aid. Here is our rundown of the key players you need to know in a moment of uncertainty.

A rundown of the key players in 'America First' foreign aid, by @alterigoe.bsky.social www.devex.com/news/the-key...

Alarm bells ring as US rolls out transactional strings for health deals Negotiations with Zambia and Nigeria are the most stark examples of where the Trump administration has made explicit terms around nonhealth metrics it wants in return for aid.

“Conditioning health assistance on religious affiliation or political reforms risks fragmenting national health strategies and bypassing continental frameworks like the AU’s Agenda 2063 and Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order,” said Amref Health Africa’s Desta Lakew. www.devex.com/news/alarm-b...