PHILANTHROPIST and legendary software designer Bill Gates has pledged to direct most of his $200bn wealth being committed to humanitarian causes over the next two decades to Africa.

Addressing gathered African leaders and thousands of development practitioners at the Nelson Mandela Hall within the African Union headquarters on Tuesday, he said the support would focus on partnerships with governments that prioritize health and human development.

He urged governments to seize opportunities to drive progress through innovation and collaboration, reiterating his commitment that his 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,” he stated, buttressing a shift in focus toward the continent apparently in the wake of sharp cuts in US foreign aid in the past few months.

He emphasized that investing in people—especially through health and education—would pave the way for a more prosperous Africa.

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

Following his keynote address, Gates joined Dr Paulin Basinga, the Africa director for the Gates Foundation, in a fireside chat exploring the continent’s development priorities and the importance of targeted investment to unlock progress.

The event drew support from prominent African figures, including Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the World Trade Organization director general, and Ambassador Amina Mohammed, a former top official at the United Nations and veteran Kenyan cabinet minister. They both emphasized the importance of strong governance, resilient communities and effective partnerships, participants noted.

Graça Machel, former Mozambican and later South African first lady and a renowned advocate for women and children, described the current context as “a moment of crisis,” while applauding Gates for his long-term engagement with Africa.

“Gates’ commitment reflects a deep understanding of our challenges and a respect for African leadership and innovation,” she stated, while the philanthropist called for stronger investment in primary healthcare, highlighting the role of maternal and child nutrition.

“Helping a mother be healthy before and during pregnancy, and ensuring her child is well-nourished in the first four years, delivers the strongest outcomes,” he specified.

He cited countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia as examples of strong national leadership using data and innovation to tackle major health challenges—ranging from reducing child mortality to deploying tools against malaria and HIV.

Turning to technology, Gates highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform public health systems. Citing Rwanda’s use of AI-enabled ultrasounds to detect high-risk pregnancies, he urged African countries to integrate AI into next-generation healthcare, likening the opportunity to the continent’s earlier leap into mobile banking.

During his visit to Ethiopia, Gates met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and participated in a roundtable discussion at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, where he reviewed the country’s iodine-folic acid fortified salt programme.

He is expected to travel next to Nigeria to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and participate in a ‘Goalkeepers Nigeria’ event focused on innovation and youth empowerment.

This trip follows the Gates Foundation’s announcement on May 8 that it will invest $200bn globally over 20 years to address health disparities, eliminate preventable diseases and reduce poverty. The foundation plans to sunset its operations at the end of this period.

Over the past two decades, the Gates Foundation has worked alongside African partners to drive health innovation, develop vaccines and strengthen healthcare systems. Its support has contributed to saving over 80 million lives through organizations such as the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) along with the Global Fund against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

“Our foundation has an increasing commitment to Africa,” he stated. “It began with our first office here in Ethiopia 13 years ago and now includes regional offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. This is how we build lasting partnerships,” he added.