Bill Gates says to give most of $200b to Africans' health

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One of the world's wealthiest individuals, Bill Gates, has committed to donate the majority of his $200 billion (about shillings 726 trillion) to Africa. 

In an address on June 2, 2025, in Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union, Gates, who is also the chairperson of the Gates Foundation, urged African leaders to seize the moment to accelerate progress in health and development through innovation and partnership, despite current headwinds. 

A statement issued by the foundation's media team, and issued on the same day, says, "He announced that the majority of his $200 billion spend over the next 20 years will go to Africa with a focus on partnering with governments that prioritise the health and wellbeing of their people". 

According to the Gates Foundation, during the first 25 years of the Gates Foundation, they have given away more than $100 billion (over shillings 350 trillion). 

Born on October 28, 1955, Seattle, Washington, philanthropist Gates is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur who cofounded Microsoft Corporation, the world’s largest personal-computer software company.

“I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa.” 

Gates, who was addressing over 12,000 government officials, diplomats, health workers, development partners  and youth leaders in person and online, underscored the critical role of African leadership and ingenuity in driving the continent’s health and economic future.

“By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity – and that path is an exciting thing to be part of,” he said. 

Following his address, the statement says, Gates joined Dr Paulin Basinga, the foundation’s Africa director, in a fireside chat to discuss Africa’s development agenda and the investments and partnerships needed to drive future progress.

Calls for collaboration and shared responsibility were delivered by prominent African leaders, including World Trade Organisation director-general Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and United Nations deputy secretary-general Amina J. Mohammed. 

Moment of crisis

Renowned advocate for women and children Graça Machel described the current situation as “a moment of crisis” and emphasized the importance of enduring partnerships in Africa’s development journey.

Bill Gates with AU chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf

“Mr Gates’ long-standing partnership with Africa reflects a deep understanding of these challenges and a respect for African leadership, ideas and innovation." 

“We are counting on Mr Gates’ steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us.”

Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that Africa’s health progress is a result of strong government leadership, resilient communities, and partnerships that deliver results. 

Primary healthcare is key

Gates called for prioritizing primary healthcare, emphasizing that “investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing.” 

“With primary healthcare, 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. Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference.” 

Gates’ speech highlighted how countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia are showing what’s possible when bold leadership harnesses innovation.

From expanding frontline health services and using data to cut child mortality, to deploying advanced tools against malaria and HIV and safeguarding primary healthcare despite fiscal strain—these country-led efforts are driving scalable, homegrown progress. 

Reflecting on more than two decades of engagement on the continent, Gates said, “I’ve always been inspired by the hard work of Africans even in places with very limited resources.” 

He added, “The kind of field work to get solutions out, even in the most rural areas, has been incredible.” 

The potential of AI

Gates spoke about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI), noting its relevance for the continent’s future. He praised Africa’s young innovators, saying he was “seeing young people in Africa embracing this, and thinking about how it applies to the problems that they want to solve.” 

Drawing a parallel to the continent’s mobile banking revolution, he added, “Africa largely skipped traditional banking and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that.” 

He pointed to Rwanda as an early example of this promise, noting, “Rwanda is using AI to improve service delivery. E.g. AI-enabled ultrasound, to identify high-risk pregnancies earlier, helping women receive timely, potentially life-saving care.”

In Ethiopia and Nigeria this week, Gates will see first-hand the state of health and development priorities in the wake of foreign aid cuts, and he will affirm his and the foundation’s commitment to supporting Africa’s progress in health and development over the next 20 years. 

“Our foundation has an increasing commitment to Africa. Our first African office was here in Ethiopia about 13 years ago. Now we have offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. That’s a great way for us to strengthen partnerships.” 

Spending $200 billion

Gates’s trip follows the foundation’s historic announcement on May 8, 2025, that it would spend $200 billion over the next 20 years to advance progress on saving and improving lives and Gates’ commitment to give away virtually all of his wealth to the foundation in that timeframe. 

Over the next two decades, the foundation will work together with its partners to make as much progress as possible towards three primary goals: end preventable deaths of moms and babies; ensure the next generation grows up without having to suffer from deadly infectious diseases; and lift millions of people out of poverty, putting them on a path to prosperity.

At the end of 20 years, the foundation will sunset its operations. Over the last two decades, the Gates Foundation has worked alongside African partners to save lives, develop vaccines, and strengthen systems.

It has helped catalyse 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. 

About the Gates Foundation 

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.