Gates calls for more aid to Africa/ Gates advocates for African debt relief/ African deve/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bill Gates is urging wealthier governments to increase aid to Africa, noting that support has been diverted to Ukraine and other global crises. Gates also advocates for debt relief to help African countries focus on health, education, and climate action. Speaking on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2024 report, Gates emphasized the need for more funding to combat child malnutrition and address long-term development challenges.
Bill Gates Pushes for More Aid and Debt Relief for Africa Quick Looks:
- Bill Gates urges wealthier nations to redirect more aid to Africa as funds have been diverted to Ukraine and global crises.
- Gates calls for debt relief for burdened nations, pointing to the success of a 2005 initiative that wiped out $40 billion in debts for 18 countries.
- The Gates Foundation’s annual report focuses on malnutrition and urges solutions like fortified foods and better prenatal care.
- Despite challenges, Gates remains optimistic about future progress in global health and development.
Deep Look:
Bill Gates is calling for wealthier nations to increase their support for Africa, stressing that development funding has shifted to other global crises, including the war in Ukraine. In an interview with the Associated Press, Gates highlighted the urgent need for debt relief, vaccines, and nutrition programs, saying, “There’s less money going to Africa at a time when they need it.”
His comments come as part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s annual Goalkeepers report, which tracks progress toward global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, the report emphasized child malnutrition, particularly as it worsens due to climate change. The foundation advocates for greater use of fortified foods and high-quality prenatal care as part of the solution.
While the world’s richest countries have increased their overall development assistance in recent years, Gates pointed out that aid to Africa fell to a 20-year low in 2022. According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), only 25% of development aid was directed to African countries last year.
Gates also emphasized the growing burden of debt for low- and middle-income nations, particularly in Africa. In June, a United Nations report noted that many countries are struggling to meet basic needs like healthcare and education as debt payments and rising interest rates consume national budgets. Gates referenced a 2005 initiative where world leaders canceled $40 billion in debt for 18 of the world’s poorest nations, calling for a similar effort today. “In a just world, you would see a movement emerge on behalf of these poorest countries to have that happen again,” Gates said.
This year’s Goalkeepers report reflects the Gates Foundation’s ongoing commitment to global health, with Gates remaining optimistic despite slow progress on several SDGs. “I think we can give global health a second act,” he wrote, adding that the competition for limited resources should not deter efforts to help vulnerable populations.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world, with an endowment of $75.2 billion. It plans to grant $8.6 billion in 2024 to support initiatives like healthcare, education, and climate action.
Focus on Child Malnutrition:
One of the central themes of this year’s report is child malnutrition, which is expected to worsen in many regions due to climate change. Malnutrition has long-lasting effects on children’s growth and cognitive development. The Gates Foundation calls for increased investment in preventive measures such as promoting breastfeeding, offering fortified foods, and expanding access to safer dairy products.
Habtamu Fekadu, a nutrition expert with Save the Children, emphasized that progress in fighting malnutrition is not happening quickly enough or equitably across regions. He noted that encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life is one of the most cost-effective interventions.
Gates remains hopeful, noting that advancements in food fortification and prenatal vitamins could make a substantial difference in the coming years if properly implemented. However, he acknowledges that global efforts have stalled and more resources are needed.
Philanthropy Shifts:
This year’s report was notable for the absence of Melinda French Gates as a co-author. She stepped down from her role as co-chair of the Gates Foundation in May, following her divorce from Gates. French Gates has since pledged to continue her philanthropic work independently and has committed $1 billion to organizations supporting women and families worldwide over the next two years.
While Warren Buffett, another longtime supporter of the foundation, has donated over $43 billion to its efforts since 2006, he recently announced that after his death, he will entrust his fortune to his children rather than the Gates Foundation. Despite this change, Gates praised Buffett’s contributions and celebrated his continued commitment to philanthropy. “God bless Warren. He’s really unbelievable,” Gates said, reflecting on their friendship.
Even without future donations from Buffett, the Gates Foundation will still wield considerable influence in global development, says Jessica Sklair, an anthropologist who studies philanthropic decisions. “They’ll still have enough money to do a lot of what they do,” she said, noting the foundation’s immense resources.
