Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has announced that the majority of the $200 billion his foundation plans to disburse over the next 20 years will be dedicated to improving health and development across Africa.
Speaking on Monday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Gates emphasized Africa’s critical role and potential in global development. Addressing African leaders, health experts, youth representatives, and development partners, he declared: “The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa.”
Highlighting the importance of investing in primary healthcare, Gates described it as the foundation for sustainable development, with a particular focus on maternal and child nutrition.
“Investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing,” he said, noting that supporting mothers before and during pregnancy and ensuring good nutrition for children in their early years is key to breaking cycles of poverty and disease.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who on Sunday awarded Gates the country’s highest state honour in recognition of 25 years of the foundation’s work, welcomed the commitment as a significant boost for Africa’s development.
During his address, Gates pointed to the successes of countries like Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia, praising their bold leadership and innovative health initiatives. Examples included scaling up frontline health services, using data to reduce child mortality, and deploying advanced tools to combat malaria and HIV.
Gates also highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and governance. He noted the rapid adoption of AI among African youth, citing Rwanda’s use of AI-enabled ultrasound technology to detect high-risk pregnancies as a life-saving innovation.
“I’m seeing young people in Africa embracing this and thinking about how it applies to the problems they want to solve,” he said.
Later this week, Gates is expected to meet with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and participate in the “Goalkeepers Nigeria” event, focusing on scaling innovation and discussing Nigeria’s primary healthcare reform and national AI strategy.
The Gates Foundation has maintained a strong presence in Africa for over two decades, with offices in Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal. It has supported over 100 innovations and helped save more than 80 million lives, largely through partnerships with Gavi and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
In a follow-up fireside chat, Gates and the Foundation’s Africa Director, Paulin Basinga, discussed strengthening cooperation between governments and local innovators. The event also featured remarks from World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Okonjo-Iweala lauded African governments for their leadership and the role of resilient communities and partnerships in advancing health progress on the continent.
The $200 billion commitment aims to end preventable maternal and child deaths, eliminate deadly infectious diseases, and lift millions out of poverty, reaffirming Africa’s central place in the foundation’s long-term global development agenda.
