RESOURCES
BREAKING POINT: THE IMPACT OF US FUNDING CUTS ON HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMMES IN SOUTH AFRICA
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BREAKING POINT: THE IMPACT OF US FUNDING CUTS ON HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMMES IN SOUTH AFRICA
This report, Breaking Point: The Impact of US Funding Cuts on Harm Reduction in South Africa, documents the consequences of sudden donor withdrawals on essential harm reduction services. It is the product of a rapid country survey led by Harm Reduction International (HRI) in partnership with the South African Network of People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD), and with contributions from civil society, service providers, and communities directly affected by the funding crisis. South Africa has long relied on international donors, particularly the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, to finance HIV prevention and harm reduction. While government has increasingly funded treatment, prevention interventions for key populations remain almost entirely donor dependent. The abrupt withdrawal of U.S. government funding through PEPFAR in early 2025, combined with a 16% reduction in Global Fund allocations under Grant Cycle 7 (GC7), has triggered a public health crisis with immediate and devastating consequences. South Africa’s harm reduction system stands at a breaking point. |
