Dear friends,

The past two weeks have sent shockwaves through the international development community, as the incoming Trump administration announced a freeze on all U.S. spending on foreign aid. As a result of this executive action, on the morning of Jan. 24, Landesa received a stop work order on two projects funded by the U.S. Department of State. We have complied with the order and halted work on both projects, which involve work on land rights and climate action in South Asia and support for Stand for Her Land coalitions in Bangladesh, Colombia, and Kenya.

Landesa has purposefully built a diversified funding portfolio from a variety of private and public sources, giving us the resilience to withstand periodic system shocks and adapt to a changing financial landscape. While the potential lost revenue from these two projects is significant, we remain on solid footing. Our thoughts are with the staff and local partners most directly impacted by the suspension of these projects, and to our many colleagues and peers in the international development community similarly affected. Regardless of the outcome of the stop work order, we are already seeking alternative resources to allow these two projects to continue.

In an increasingly uncertain world, land rights offer a firm foundation for rural women, men, and their families to grow prosperity and secure their futures. Our work is an essential tool for promoting peace and stability around the globe – vital to U.S. interests and values. It is our hope that this administration will recognize that international aid advances U.S. diplomatic goals while building a safer and more prosperous world.

This is a fluid situation, and I am in regular communication with our leadership and partners as we monitor and respond to new developments. In the meantime, thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Chris Jochnick
President & CEO