100 Conservation Projects Seek New Funders After USAID Loss

When USAID closed its doors twenty months ago, wildlife rangers in Kenya, forest monitors in Peru, and community conservation leaders in Bangladesh suddenly lost the funding that powered their work. Now, a new initiative is turning that loss into an opportunity for connection.

Two former senior USAID officials, Monica Bansal and Hadas Kushnir, founded One Earth Partners to document what happened after the agency disappeared. Their report surveyed 150 people working on conservation projects in Bangladesh, Peru, Kenya, Colombia, and Vietnam.

The findings revealed both challenges and determination. USAID had spent $366 million on biodiversity conservation and $257 million on climate adaptation in its final year, supporting everything from anti-poaching patrols in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park to satellite deforestation monitoring in the Amazon.

Daniel Sopia, who leads the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association in Kenya, lost a five-year, $6.5 million grant. He laid off 10 staff members and cut his budget by 72%, putting plans for new wildlife corridors on hold.

But the story doesn't end there. Some organizations quickly found replacement funding from other government agencies and private foundations. Others adapted their programs to fit new funding realities.

The Bright Side

One Earth Partners published a public list of 100 former USAID-supported projects actively seeking new funders. The list connects proven conservation programs with donors looking for effective projects to support.

These aren't untested ideas. They're established programs with track records, from Bangladesh's nature-based tourism initiatives built over two decades to Colombia's satellite monitoring systems that help protect the Amazon.

The transition revealed something unexpected: conservation work that was once dependent on a single funding source is becoming more resilient through diversified support. Private philanthropy, alternative government programs, and new partnerships are filling gaps faster than many expected.

The projects on the list span critical ecosystems worldwide. They include wildlife law enforcement, community forestry programs, environmental policy development, and climate adaptation work that helps vulnerable communities prepare for environmental changes.

Organizations that once navigated USAID's bureaucracy are discovering new partners who bring fresh approaches and sometimes more flexibility.

Today, those 100 projects represent both what was lost and what's possible when committed people refuse to let important work disappear.