
In an address at Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union, Microsoft founder Bill Gates set an ambitious course for his philanthropic work. Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gates announced that the majority of the Gates Foundation’s $200 billion endowment will be directed toward Africa over the next 20 years.
As he put it: “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.“
This bold statement follows the foundation’s historic announcement on May 8, 2025, that it would spend $200 billion over the next two decades to advance progress in saving and improving lives. It also reflects Gates’ commitment to give away virtually all of his wealth to the foundation within that timeframe.
Gates’s announcement comes at a critical moment. With significant cuts to U.S. government aid particularly affecting PEPFAR, the global HIV/AIDS relief program, the risks of diminishing support have become starkly apparent.
A study in The Lancet warned that cuts to American aid could lead to the deaths of 500,000 children by 2030, while research in Nature estimated that a sustained halt to U.S. aid could result in 25 million additional deaths over 15 years. Against this backdrop, Gates’s commitment is seen as a potential lifeline for millions aimed at bridging the gap left by shrinking foreign assistance.
Gates emphasized that primary healthcare and education will be at the core of his foundation’s focus, highlighting the critical role of maternal and child nutrition in shaping Africa’s future. “Investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and well-being,” Gates explained. “What we have learnt is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant and while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results. Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years also makes all the difference.”
The foundation, which has invested heavily in vaccines, maternal health programs, and disease prevention initiatives, has already contributed to over 100 innovations that have saved more than 80 million lives.Gates is urging African leaders to accelerate investments in healthcare and innovation as a pathway to prosperity. He stressed that the continent’s future lies in unlocking its human potential through improved health and education. As he stated: “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.”
Gates also called on African nations to adopt advanced technological solutions, such as artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcar citing Rwanda’s AI-powered ultrasound technology as a successful example. “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 noted.
Countries such as Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe were highlighted as examples of meaningful development progress.
The foundation’s growing presence with offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and its first African office established in Ethiopia 13 years ago, demonstrates its commitment to partnering with local governments to strengthen health and development systems.
In addition to his concrete plans for Africa, Gates used the occasion to deliver a broader message on the responsibility of wealth. He suggested that the rich should redirect their fortunes toward actions that create meaningful, long-lasting change. His stance reinforces a legacy of giving that challenges conventional norms of wealth accumulation. As he put it in a related discussion: “People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them.“
During his visit, Gates will also meet with African leaders such as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to discuss how AI and healthcare reforms can further transform their nations.
Former Mozambican First Lady Graça Machel welcomed his pledge, describing it as “timely and crucial” during what she called “a moment of crisis.” Her remarks reinforced the urgent need for strong partnerships and shared responsibility as the continent grapples with complex health and economic challenges.
With this pledge, Africa stands at a turning point, one that could reshape healthcare, innovation, and development for generations to come.