Gates Foundation Pledges 200 Billion USD to Promote Global Health

Addis Ababa, June 2, 2025 (ENA) -- Gates Foundation will invest 200 billion USD over the coming 20 years to promote global health and well-being, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said today.

Bill Gates made the remake today during an event organized at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa to mark the 25 Years of Gates Foundation services in the continent.

Over the last two decades, the Gates Foundation has worked alongside African partners to save lives, develop vaccines, and strengthen systems.

It has helped catalyze more than 100 innovations and contributed to saving more than 80 million lives through Gavi and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

In an address today in Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union, Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates urged African leaders to seize the moment to accelerate progress in health and development through innovation and partnership, despite current headwinds.

 

He announced that the majority of his 200 billion USD spend over the next 20 years will go to Africa with a focus on partnering with governments that prioritize the health and wellbeing of their people.

The philanthropist aims to prevent deaths and alleviate poverty, with a focus on low-and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia.

Bill Gates was awarded Ethiopia's highest award for his philanthropic impact in the country over the past 25 years.

Despite concerns, Gates remains optimistic about innovations and partnerships that can improve lives and enable a healthy life for everyone.

According to him, Africa must achieve independence in its health care systems by 2045.

Stating that balanced diet is crucial for a healthy generation and agriculture the backbone of the economy and key to nourishing kids, Gates underscored that providing farmers with accurate data, including weather, pricing, and soil-specific fertilizer information, and tools is essential.

“The foundation works in a lot of important areas I won't be able to touch on all,” Gates said, adding that “one is what we call digital public infrastructure. That's having each government have an identity scheme that works well, being able to transact and save very easily from your mobile phone.”

For him, Artificial Intelligence has the potential to assist farmers by offering enhanced guidance, transforming health care services, and enabling early detection of pregnancies.

 

Gates, who described himself as a technologist at work, noted that artificial intelligence is an incredible opportunity.

“It brings challenges with it, but as we drive it forward we will make a huge difference in health, education and agriculture; and now I'm seeing young people in Africa embracing this and thinking about how it applies to the problems that they want to solve.”

He, however, emphasized the need for fair access and the involvement of local communities in creating solutions. AI should benefit those it serves and be accountable.

On her part, Graça Machel Trust founder, Machel applauded Bill Gates for collective action, courage, and compassion to address Africa's challenges, demonstrating dedication to the continent's progress and understanding its problems and innovation.

“It is profoundly symbolic that Mr. Gates chooses to speak from the home of the African Union, which demonstrates his commitment to take Africa to heart and keep our issues central to his work more than ever.”

Africans are called to awaken their enduring spirit of resilience, to rise, rebuild and re-imagine our future and act with the courage, clarity and collective action that defines us, but even reminded us that leadership is defined by service, by recognizing the dignity in others, uplifting their voices, and working toward a future anchored in justice and compassion, Machel elaborated.

 

 

,