Why International Aid Alone Is Not A Guarantee for Food Security

“The defunding of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance presents a unique opportunity for the international community to reassess how food security can be achieved in the long run,” writes Sheina Pribadi.

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By Sheina Pribadi 

When famine or conflict disrupts food supplies, international aid agencies provide life-saving relief. For decades, organizations like the World Food Programme and the now-embattled US Agency International Development (USAID) have been crucial in delivering food assistance to communities facing natural disasters, conflict, and extreme poverty. Their support prevents famine and malnutrition, saving countless lives.

Yet, while aid is essential in times of crisis, true food security requires more than emergency relief. Long-term resilience depends on sustainable solutions – ones that empower local communities to produce, distribute, and access food independently.

The recent defunding of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance – one of the largest donors of international food assistance – has raised alarms across the globe. With over 60 million people across 56 countries relying on USAID’s food assistance, this shift presents a significant challenge for international development.

However, it could also be a moment of opportunity. Rather than relying solely on emergency aid, we now have the chance to build more sustainable solutions.

Why Is International Aid Creating Problems?

Take Haiti, for example. After the 2010 earthquake, a flood of food aid – particularly cheap rice from the US – entered the market. This undercut local farmers, making it harder for them to sell their crops.

As a result, Haiti became even more reliant on external support. Fast forward to today, and the country remains in a hunger crisis, with nearly 2 million people projected to face emergency food insecurity between now and June, according to Action Against Hunger.

Aid alone cannot solve food insecurity. Climate change, political instability, and fragile agricultural systems are often the root causes of hunger, yet aid programmes frequently address only the symptoms. But what happens when the aid disappears? 

This is a huge question we now face as the international community confronts USAID’s shutdown.

Empowering Local Communities

To achieve lasting food security, we must empower farmers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to produce food sustainably and efficiently. By investing in local agriculture, we can build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate shocks, economic instability, and political unrest.

Recently, I came across Musau Mutisya, a Kenyan farmer who received support from a non-profit organisation for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into his farming practices. Before using AI, Musau relied on intuition to choose the right fertilizers for his crops. However, with climate change disrupting traditional farming patterns, his yields were often inconsistent. 

With AI, Mutisya was able to gather data and provide precise recommendations for fertilizer use, resulting in significant improvements in both the quality and quantity of his crops. 

This kind of innovation should be embraced more widely. By integrating technology into farming, we can empower farmers to take control of their futures, reducing dependency and building sustainable food security from the ground up.

You might also like: How Climate Smart Agriculture Can Help Us Tackle Global Food Insecurity

The Role of Local Governments

While tech-based solutions are crucial, good governance is equally vital for building long-term food security. Policies that protect land rights, promote infrastructure investment, and support fair trade are essential for strengthening food systems and ensuring access to affordable, nutritious food.

This can be seen in Rwanda, where land reforms securing farmers’ land rights, combined with investments in roads and irrigation, have led to improvements in productivity and market access – with maize production surging by 400% in 2024.

Governments also play a key role in creating and implementing policies that promote sustainable agricultural practices. For instance, supporting climate-smart agriculture – such as water-efficient irrigation systems and drought-resistant crops – can mitigate the impacts of climate change on food production.

In Pakistan, the government has taken significant steps to improve access to agricultural water through better on-farm water management, community-level water resources accounting, budgeting, and irrigation advisory services, which have made a tangible difference when it comes to enhancing agricultural resilience.

By combining strong governance with technological innovation, we can create sustainable, food-secure futures for communities around the world.

A Collaborative Effort For Long-Term Food Security

The defunding of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance presents a unique opportunity for the international community to reassess how food security can be achieved in the long run.

NGOs, governments, and international organizations must work together to ensure farmers receive the ongoing support they need – particularly in the wake of the USAID shutdown.

By providing people with access to modern farming technologies, improved irrigation systems, and better market opportunities, we can help communities become more self-sufficient and reduce their reliance on external aid.

Building resilient food systems that can withstand shocks requires sustained collaboration across all sectors. Only through collective efforts can we ensure that everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.

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About the author: Sheina Pribadi is Founder of the ACE Project in Indonesia and recipient of the One Young World Academy Award. Through her initiative, Pribadi creates low-cost, eco-friendly bricks from industrial and shell waste to rebuild infrastructure in disaster-prone areas. However, her work doesn’t stop at sustainable construction; she also partners with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the YUM Project to address food insecurity and youth empowerment.