African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf held a key meeting with Bill Gates, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The discussions centered on strengthening Africa’s health systems, expanding local manufacturing of vaccines and medicines, and enhancing food security across the continent.
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This meeting coincided with Gates’ recent announcement that the majority of his $200 billion fortune will be directed toward Africa’s health, education, and development over the next two decades, a commitment made during the Inspiring Progress event in Ethiopia.
The high-level talks highlighted a shared commitment to advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063, which aims for a prosperous and healthy continent.
Chairperson Youssouf highlighted pressing concerns about global aid reductions and unfulfilled climate finance pledges. He mentioned Africa’s borderline contribution to global emissions and the unfair treatment it receives in climate discussions.
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Gates echoed these concerns, pledging to advocate for sustained international aid and deeper partnerships to address these challenges.
Gates emphasized the role of African leadership and innovation in driving progress. He stated, “By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity – and that path is an exciting thing to be part of.”
“I’ve always been inspired by the hard work of Africans even in places with very limited resources. The kind of fieldwork to get solutions out, even in the most rural areas, has been incredible,” he continued.
The meeting also addressed practical initiatives, such as the Gates Foundation’s work on digital public infrastructure.
Gates commented, “So far, we have half the countries in Africa implementing those systems. We think it’ll spread eventually to all of the different countries.”
“So not only do you domestically have instant payment, but even in terms of integrating the African economies, these digital payments make it easy to work across borders.”