Bill Gates speaks at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, announcing that the majority of his $200 billion pledge will be directed toward Africa.
In a landmark speech streamed live by Africa.com, Bill Gates announced that most of the $200 billion he has pledged to give to the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years will be directed toward Africa.
Until now, the full scope of Gates’s unprecedented pledge had not been publicly detailed.
Speaking from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation described this Africa-first strategy as a defining shift.
“I recently committed that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years,” Gates said. “One thing that I haven’t said publicly before is that, as we think about the priorities and the great partnerships we have, the majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa.”
The virtual event drew more than 20,000 viewers and brought together African heads of state, youth innovators, policymakers, diplomats, and development partners.
For many, the moment marked a new chapter in the continent’s philanthropic and development landscape.
Urgent Call for Action
Graça Machel, the Mozambican humanitarian and founder of the Graça Machel Trust, welcomed Gates’ remarks with a pointed message to African leaders and institutions.
“It’s time for Africans to leverage all the resources at their disposal and take the destiny of their people into their own hands,” she said.
“We need to own our future, shape our development, and define what prosperity means for us.”
Gates echoed this call, describing Africa as standing at a critical crossroads.
“Africa is a place of incredible opportunity,” he said. “And yet, we’re sitting here at a time, actually, of a significant crisis.”
One of the most sobering warnings he issued was about global health backsliding.
“For the first time in 25 years, the number of children who die will go up instead of going down,” Gates said.
He cited several reasons: dwindling donor support, rising debt levels, conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability.
But he emphasized that leadership—both domestic and international—would determine the trajectory.
“I’m calling on donor countries not to cut back. And I’m calling on African governments to protect their health and agriculture budgets,” Gates said, praising countries like Nigeria, Tanzania, and Malawi for increasing domestic health investments in the face of global reductions.
Innovation and AI: A Continental Priority
A major theme of Gates’s address was the power of innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, to improve lives in resource-constrained environments.
“If equity were served, [AI] should roll out here first, because the need for more medical capacity and educational capacity is probably stronger here than anywhere else in the world,” he said.
He shared examples of low-cost, high-impact technologies already in use, such as AI-enabled ultrasounds connected to smartphones to detect complications early in pregnancy.
“Already, we’re seeing good examples of this,” Gates said. “You plug this into your cell phone… early in a pregnancy, the software will tell you, is this going to be a difficult delivery?”
Gates also highlighted the importance of partnerships across governments, research institutions, and communities as the backbone of effective change.
“By unleashing the human potential through health, through education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity,” he said.
“That path is an exciting thing to be part of creating. That’s how I intend to focus all of my work for the rest of my life, because there’s nothing more important.”
A Long-Term Commitment
Founded in 2000, the Gates Foundation has become one of the world’s largest private philanthropic entities.
In Africa, its footprint spans vaccine delivery, agricultural innovation, maternal health, digital finance, and scientific research.
It has partnered with initiatives like Gavi, the vaccine alliance, and supported efforts to eradicate malaria and boost food security.
Gates made clear that this legacy is only the beginning.
“This is where we think we can have the biggest impact,” he said.
“And we want to do that with humility, with partnership, and with deep respect for the leadership already on the continent.”
Looking ahead, he promised sustained engagement.
“My commitment is to be a partner through the Gates Foundation,” he said. “There’s nothing more important.”
As the livestream concluded, applause and reflection filled the room.
But the lasting impression came from Gates’ pledge itself: that the largest philanthropic commitment in history will not just target Africa, it will build with Africa, spotlighting local leadership and scalable solutions from within the continent.
