The funding landscape in South Africa is shifting, and with it, the pressures on NPOs like FoodForward SA are mounting. Increasingly, NPOs are required to do more with less. While we have never been directly dependent on USAID funding, the withdrawal of this support to local implementing partners is reshaping the broader environment in which we operate. The ripple effect is undeniable, and it is being felt most acutely by vulnerable communities.

Over the past year, we’ve seen a significant surge in demand for food assistance. Applications from community organisations wanting to join our Beneficiary Organisation (BO) network have grown well beyond the norm, forcing us to temporarily pause the intake of new BOs.

Typically, we process between 100 and 250 new applications each month. Recently, this number has swelled to between 350 and 400. With available resources stretched, we have had no choice but to prioritise sustainability over expansion.

The reality is that the cuts in USAID funding are not happening in isolation. As international grants are phased out and redundancy payments finalised, we anticipate a further increase in demand over the coming year. This looming spike is not just a statistic; it represents families suddenly losing income, middle-class professionals displaced from USAID-funded jobs, and people living with chronic illnesses who can no longer rely on the social or medical safety nets that once supported them. The newly imposed tariffs by the USA on South Africa will only serve to exacerbate this already challenging situation.

For FoodForward SA, this current reality underscores the urgency of strengthening partnerships and securing multi-year agreements with financial donors.

The road ahead is challenging. But it is also an opportunity for us to reimagine how we, as a country, respond. By building stronger local and international networks and rallying collective support, FoodForward SA is committed to ensuring that those who need our support are not left behind.