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The most critical projects identified by the Project Resource Optimization (PRO) Initiative have reached their initial funding goal, reaching around 41,000,000 people with life-saving aid across more than 30 countries.
New York City, September 24, 2025. The Project Resource Optimization (PRO) Initiative, hosted by the Center for Global Development (CGD), announced today that it has reached a major milestone: every project identified in its first wave of urgent, high-impact opportunities has now received funding for another 12 months. More than $110 million has been mobilized, ensuring continued delivery of life-saving aid to an estimated 41,000,000 people across more than 30 countries.
PRO was created in February 2025 to respond to sudden disruptions in U.S. foreign assistance by helping donors identify and support the most high-impact, cost-effective programs at risk. In just over six months, PRO has helped match private donors to about 80 of the most cost-effective projects that were halted during the recent dismantling of USAID, ranging from malnutrition treatment and antenatal care in conflict zones, to safe water programs, to innovations in HIV medicine delivery. PRO’s rigorous, transparent vetting process offered donors a way to act quickly and decisively to make their dollars count.
Specifically, PRO has helped raise funding for programs in over 30 countries, which will reach an estimated 40 million people and save countless lives. This includes malnutrition treatments for 1.35 million, safe water access for 250,000, and basic health services for over 35 million people. Given the way these programs are targeted, a large proportion of those reached will be children under the age of five. These programs have been given a lifeline by multiple donors who have demonstrated the true spirit of human generosity by coming together at this critical moment.
“The PRO Initiative shows what’s possible when donors move quickly and collaboratively to do the right thing. By channeling resources to programs with proven track records, we not only preserve progress already made but also save lives that might otherwise be lost. This is a model of philanthropy at its best—timely, targeted, and based on evidence of what delivers real impact”, said Grace Morgan at PRO.
While PRO will continue reviewing projects that meet its criteria of delivering highly cost effective life-saving services, with its initial phase complete, PRO is now looking ahead. In the immediate term, PRO’s focus will be on helping the most impactful projects reach even more vulnerable people, while exploring other avenues to help ensure that future philanthropic funding is steered toward proven, cost-effective interventions and toward effective, longer-term solutions to global development challenges.
Now, the PRO team is inviting partners to join this effort ensuring that evidence-based, cost-effective programs continue to save and improve lives around the world. The work in solving the most pressing development challenges of our time is not complete as life-saving work requires sustained and reliable support to provide those in need the chance to gain their footing and truly achieve lasting progress.
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About PRO
Launched in February 2025, PRO is an initiative to identify the most cost-effective life saving projects that were previously operated through USAID funding prior to its dismantling in an effort to enable private philanthropy to preserve the most important health and humanitarian programming that would otherwise be lost. The PRO database and approach are public goods that donors can use to inform their own funding decisions. Led by economists and cost-effectiveness experts with experience leading humanitarian and development organizations, PRO identifies lists of critical funding opportunities. By asking targeted questions of top experts in the fields of health and humanitarian foreign aid, PRO’s transparent assessment is intended to support donors looking to help get impact back on track, fast.
About CGD
The Center for Global Development is an independent, nonpartisan think tank, based out of Washington D.C. and London. It works to reduce global poverty and improve lives through innovative economic research that drives better policy and practice by the world's top decision makers. For more info visit https://www.cgdev.org/
Notes for editors
More information can be found on PRO’s website. Learn more about the list of projects funded to date here.
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Diana Gutierrez
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