Armenian expert anticipates USAID activities to resume soon 

ArmInfo. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will resume its operations, including in Armenia, in the next 3-6 months. However, it will now function under the auspices of the US State Department and with a more efficient agenda.  Sergey Minasyan, Deputy Director of  the Caucasus Institute and a Doctor of Political Science, shared a  similar opinion in an interview with ArmInfo.

"After USAID comes under the control of the State Department, which  is quite logical, and once all existing delays are resolved, I  believe that this structure will resume its activities. And it may  even be more effective than before," Minasyan said, discussing the  consequences of the closure of USAID for Armenian grant  organizations, given the fact that they existed precisely thanks to  funding from this structure.

According to the expert, all potential crises will be temporary, and  obviously, after 90 days announced by US President Donald Trump, the  structure will be restarted. Minasyan pointed out that today, any  self- respecting state has an organization of a similar nature,  whether it be  France, Great Britain, Turkey, or Russia. Regarding  the consequences for Armenian grant recipients, the political  scientist noted that the funds were primarily received by media and  NGOs involved in media development and educational programs in  Armenia. "I believe all these organizations receiving funding from  USAID are currently facing a financial crisis. However, those that  survive will likely continue to receive funding, possibly even to a  greater extent," Minasyan noted.