Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and philanthropist, has voiced concern over the diminishing financial support for African nations. This comes at a time when development funding is increasingly directed towards humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and global refugee support.
"There's less money going to Africa at a time when they need it, whether it's for debt relief, vaccinations or to reduce malnutrition."
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000, recently published its annual Goalkeeper's report, focusing on child malnutrition. The foundation, one of the world's largest private philanthropic organizations, projects that climate change will exacerbate this issue in the coming years.
To combat malnutrition, the foundation advocates for increased use of fortified foods, high-quality prenatal vitamins, and improved access to safer dairy products. These efforts align with the foundation's long-standing commitment to global health initiatives, including the fight against malaria and polio.
The report also highlights the slow progress in reducing the number of children affected by malnutrition, which can irreversibly harm their growth and potential. Habtamu Fekadu, managing director for nutrition at Save the Children, emphasizes the need for large-scale prevention efforts, with a focus on encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life.
Despite stalling progress on most development goals, Gates remains optimistic about global health's future. This optimism comes even as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reported that the portion of development assistance going to African countries fell to a 20-year low of around 25% in 2022.
The foundation's report coincides with significant changes in its leadership structure. Melinda French Gates stepped down as co-chair in May 2023, following her divorce from Bill Gates in 2021. Additionally, Warren Buffett, a long-time supporter who had pledged most of his wealth to the foundation in 2006, left the board in 2021.
Despite these changes, the Gates Foundation maintains a substantial endowment of $75.2 billion, larger than the GDP of many countries. The foundation plans to grant out $8.4 billion in 2024, demonstrating its continued commitment to global health and development initiatives.
As the foundation moves forward, it faces both opportunities and challenges. Its significant resources allow for ambitious projects, but it also faces criticism for its broad influence on international development without democratic accountability. Nevertheless, the Gates Foundation remains a pivotal player in shaping global health policy and addressing critical issues such as child malnutrition and climate change.