Bill Gates urges richer nations to boost aid for Africa

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and philanthropist, has called for increased aid to African nations, emphasizing the need for debt relief for countries facing financial burdens. His remarks were made during the release of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual Goalkeeper's report, which evaluates progress towards global development goals established in 2015. The report highlights a concerning trend: while overall development assistance from wealthy nations has risen since 2019, the share allocated to Africa reached a 20-year low in 2022, dropping to approximately 25%. This decline is alarming given the rising public debt and borrowing costs in many regions. Gates pointed to the necessity of addressing malnutrition, advocating for fortified foods and better prenatal care as essential interventions. He noted that the foundation's efforts aim to improve child health outcomes, particularly through promoting exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life. The report also reflects on the foundation's commitment to global health, despite competing challenges that strain government budgets. In light of the financial pressures faced by African countries, Gates recalled a significant debt relief initiative from 2005, where $40 billion in debts were forgiven for some of the world's poorest nations. This historical context underscores the importance of continued advocacy for financial support and debt alleviation. Despite changes in leadership within the foundation, with Melinda French Gates stepping down, the organization remains a major player in global health funding, with plans to grant $8.4 billion in 2024. Gates expressed optimism about the foundation's capacity to maintain its ambitious goals, even without the financial backing of Warren Buffett, who left the board in 2021.