Bill Gates Advocates for Increased Support to Africa Amid Global Crises

Bill Gates urges wealthiest governments to bolster support for African nations, as funds increasingly divert to crises like the Ukraine war. His Gates Foundation highlights malnutrition and debt relief as critical areas. Despite donor aid increase, funds to Africa are at a 20-year low, prompting calls for action.

Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, is calling on the richest governments to bolster support for African countries. He notes that development funding has been heavily diverted to humanitarian crises such as the Ukraine war and global refugee support, overshadowing critical needs in Africa.

Speaking in connection with the annual Goalkeeper’s report by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates emphasized the disproportionate impact of redirecting aid away from Africa. The report highlights the urgency of addressing child malnutrition, exacerbated by climate change, and calls for fortified foods and better prenatal care.

Although global development assistance has increased overall, funding specifically for Africa has fallen to a 20-year low. Gates appealed for renewed focus on Africa, drawing parallels to historic debt relief efforts, and underscored the necessity of investing in health, education, and climate resilience.

(With inputs from agencies.)