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The group refer to themselves as the "emergency rescue team". After losing their jobs when overseas aid underwent reductions in the past months, a collective of devoted staff opted to launch their own emergency initiative.

Choosing not to "remain in despair", an ex-staffer, along with similarly motivated ex-colleagues, started efforts to save some of the crucial programmes that were threatened with termination after the reductions.

Currently, nearly eighty initiatives have been saved by a facilitation effort managed by the leader and additional ex- team members, which has obtained them over $110m in new funding. The team behind the resource optimization project initiative estimates it will help 40 million people, encompassing many young kids.

Following the termination of operations, financial flows stopped, a large workforce was let go, and global initiatives either came to a shuddering halt or were barely continuing toward what Rosenbaum terms "final deadlines".

The former staffer and some of his colleagues were contacted by a foundation that "aimed to figure out how they could make the best use of their finite budgets".

They developed a list from the terminated programmes, selecting those "offering the most life-saving aid per dollar" and where a fresh backer could realistically get involved and maintain operations.

They soon recognized the requirement was broader than that first entity and began to reach out to other potential donors.

"We referred to ourselves as the lifeboat crew at the beginning," states the economist. "The vessel has been sinking, and there aren't enough rescue vessels for all initiatives to board, and so we're trying to literally rescue as many babies as we can, secure spots for these lifeboats as possible, via the programmes that are providing support."

Pro, now functioning as part of a global development thinktank, has secured funding for numerous programmes on its roster in in excess of 30 nations. Three have had original funding restored. A number were not able to be saved in time.

Backing has been provided by a mix of charitable organizations and wealthy individuals. The majority wish to remain anonymous.

"They come from varied backgrounds and opinions, but the unifying theme that we've heard from them is, 'People are appalled by what's unfolding. I sincerely wish to discover an approach to intervene,'" notes Rosenbaum.

"I believe that there was an 'aha moment' for the entire team as we commenced efforts on this, that this created an opportunity to transition from the ice-cream on the couch, dwelling on the gloom of everything that was happening around us, to having a meaningful task to fully engage with."

One project that has secured funding through Pro is work by the the medical alliance to offer support including treatment for severe acute malnutrition, maternal health care and crucial pediatric vaccinations in the West African nation.

It is vital to keep such programmes going, says Rosenbaum, not only because resuming activities if they ended would be prohibitively pricey but also because of how much confidence would be eroded in the zones of instability if the group withdrew.

"They told us […] 'we're very worried that if we depart, we may lose our place.'"

Projects with longer-term goals, such as improving medical infrastructure, or in different sectors such as education, have remained outside Pro's work. It also is not trying to preserve programmes forever but to "buy time for the entities and, frankly, the wider community, to figure out a permanent resolution".

Having found support for all projects on its first selection, the initiative says it will now focus on assisting further populations with "tested, efficient solutions".