Bill Gates Pledges Majority of $200 Billion Foundation Budget to Africa Over Next 20 Years Amid Trump's USAID Cuts

Bill Gates has committed the majority of his $200 billion foundation budget over the next 20 years to Africa. He praised Rwanda's use of AI to improve healthcare services and highlighted the potential of AI to solve critical issues. This announcement comes after Gates pledged to donate 99% of his remaining fortune to the Gates Foundation, valued at $107 billion. The move is one of the largest philanthropic contributions ever made, surpassing the donations of industrialists John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.

Tech billionaire Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, has committed to allocating the majority of the foundation’s $200 billion spend over the next two decades to Africa. This announcement was made during his address at the African Union’s Nelson Mandela Hall, where he highlighted the need to seize the moment to advance health and development, even in the face of current challenges [2].

Gates disclosed that the Gates Foundation’s planned $200 billion investment over the next 20 years will primarily be directed toward partnering with governments that prioritize their citizens’ health and well-being [2]. He stated, “The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa” [1].

The co-founder of Microsoft Inc. MSFT also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform Africa’s future, especially in the healthcare sector. He praised the continent’s young innovators for embracing AI and its potential to solve critical issues. Gates highlighted Rwanda as an early example of AI's potential, noting its use of AI-enabled ultrasounds to detect high-risk pregnancies, which could help save lives [2].

This announcement comes on the heels of Gates’ recent commitment to donate 99% of his remaining fortune to the Gates Foundation, valued at $107 billion. This move is one of the most significant philanthropic contributions ever made, surpassing the inflation-adjusted donations of industrialists John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie [2].

The Gates Foundation has three priorities: ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies, ensuring the next generation grows up without having to suffer from deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions of people out of poverty [1]. Gates emphasized the importance of focusing on primary healthcare, stating, “What we’ve learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results” [1].

Gates' commitment to Africa is notable given the recent cuts in U.S. aid to the continent, including programs to treat patients with HIV/Aids, as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s "America First" policy. These cuts have raised concerns about the future of healthcare on the continent [1].

References:
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4qg5gzgzxo
[2] https://www.benzinga.com/news/esg/25/06/45739698/bill-gates-commits-majority-of-200-billion-foundation-budget-to-africa-over-next-20-years-amid-trumps-massive-usaid-cuts