Member Video Of The Week
Video from Heifer International.
From Our Blog
Dear Global Washington Community,
We are reaching out at a time of unprecedented uncertainty for the global development and humanitarian sectors. Recent executive orders from the U.S. administration have imposed a freeze on foreign aid, halted numerous federal grants, withdrawn from international environmental commitments, and introduced significant restrictions on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives. These actions have immediate and devastating implications for our collective work to improve lives and strengthen communities around the world.
This abrupt policy shift has placed many of our members in crisis. The freeze on USAID funding and other federal grants has triggered stop-work orders across critical programs, jeopardizing food security, global health initiatives, gender equity projects, and climate resilience efforts. From emergency relief operations in conflict zones to long-term development projects that foster sustainable economic growth, these funding cuts are already forcing difficult decisions—shutting down programs, laying off staff, and leaving vulnerable populations without essential services.
Immediate Impact on Our Members
The consequences of these executive orders are and will be deeply felt across Global Washington’s network:
For many of our members, this freeze is not just a bureaucratic hurdle—it is an existential crisis. Organizations that have spent years building trust and impact in communities worldwide now face the prospect of shuttering their doors, leaving millions without the support they rely on.
What Comes Next?
This is not a moment for silence. We must act swiftly and decisively to protect the progress we have made and advocate for the restoration of essential funding. We urge those in the development sector to:
Our Commitment Moving Forward
Despite these challenges, we remain steadfast in our mission to support a globally engaged Washington state and to advance solutions that foster equity, sustainability, and human dignity worldwide. We, the global development community, believe in our shared humanity and understand that a retreat from international assistance hurts us all.
As we navigate this uncertain landscape, we will continue to provide resources and opportunities for collective action. We urge you to stay engaged, stand in solidarity with affected organizations and with one another, and advocate for the restoration of U.S. leadership in global development.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@globalwa.org.
In partnership and solidarity,
Elizabeth Stokely
Executive Director, Global Washington
Video from Heifer International.
From Our Blog
Mention the North Pole or a species at risk due to climate change and people often think of polar bears. And thanks in part to the film March of the Penguins, the emperor penguin has become synonymous with the South Pole. But did you know our planet also has a Third Pole?
August 9, 2023
By Snow Leopard Trust
20% of snow leopard-friendly beekeeping profits in Kyrgyzstan fund conservation projects
Located in Asia’s high mountains, this Third Pole has the highest concentration of snow and glaciers outside the Arctic and Antarctic regions and is thought to store 7,000 trillion liters of the planet’s fresh water. It plays a major role in sequestering carbon and determines weather patterns across many countries. It is also home to the legendary ghost of the mountains.
Organization Profile
By Amber Cortes
Prof. Bilal Mateen, the inaugural Chief AI Officer at PATH, presenting about AI for Health at the PATH Global Leaders meeting. Photo: PATH
Prof. Bilal Mateen, the inaugural Chief AI Officer at PATH, presenting about AI for Health at the PATH Global Leaders meeting. Photo: PATH
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries worldwide, and global health is no exception. At the forefront of this transformation is PATH, a global health organization leveraging AI not just as a tool for research but as a cornerstone of its strategy to improve public health.
Goalmaker
By Joel Meyers
Dr. Kingsley Ndoh
Thank you, Dr. Ndoh, for joining us today!
Thank you so much for having me really, really a pleasure and an honor.
It is our pleasure and honor for sure. Please tell us a little bit about your background, and what drove you to work in the field of oncology.
I’m originally from Nigeria. I moved to the US 13 years ago and I remember when I was coming here, I actually thought I was coming to Washington DC, I didn’t know that there were 2 Washingtons (laughter). I went to medical school in Nigeria, and just when I graduated, my very close aunt unfortunately passed on from colorectal cancer. She had had abdominal symptoms that were misdiagnosed for a year before it was caught, and unfortunately it was late stage.
So at that time I started thinking, “how can this be solved?” Because I realized that it was just not her, but it was an example of a bigger problem.
That was one of my motivations of coming to the US – to study more and to train. I ended up at the University of Washington doing a master’s in public health, with a concentration in global health. After that, I joined Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center as a fellow, then I joined the Global Oncology Program there and at the time the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center had recently started the global oncology program. They’re one of the pioneers.
And that’s what set me off in my career trajectory.