The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) has cut $51 million in funding meant for African SMEs and startups across 22 countries, including Nigeria and Kenya—the program’s largest beneficiaries. The move, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era agency now headed by Elon Musk, affects hundreds of small businesses, especially those in agriculture and wellness sectors.
Notable casualties include a WhatsApp marketing chatbot in Kenya and a wellness incubator in Nigeria. With over 211 Nigerian and 186 Kenyan startups previously supported, the abrupt cuts could collapse key rural and women-led initiatives that rely on USADF’s direct, non-dilutive funding.
The broader implication? African entrepreneurs may need to rethink their dependence on foreign aid as U.S. political shifts continue to ripple through the startup ecosystem.
Read more here: https://techcabal.com/2025/04/08/kenyan-nigerai-usadf-funding-51/TechCabal