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Explore Africa

Africa

We believe that solutions to Africa’s greatest challenges can come from within Africa. Our role is to support African partners whose bold ideas and creative approaches have the potential to save lives, improve health, and help families all across the continent.

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A Kenyan family at the Umoja Health Centre in Nairobi.

At a glance

  • Working alongside national governments, local organizations, and other partners across Africa, we contribute funding and scientific expertise in support of their goals for change.
  • We focus on countries where we believe we can have the greatest impact.
  • We support a range of programs that work to improve health and nutrition; gender equality; disease prevention, treatment, and research; water, sanitation, and hygiene; agriculture; and financial services for the poor.

Fact sheet: Our work in Africa

A brief overview of our priorities in Africa.

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Our major partners in Africa

African Centeres for Disease Control and Prevention

African Medicines Agency

African Union

Amref Health Africa

Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)

Economic Community of West African Studies

Southern African Development Community

The East African Community

UNICEF

West African Health Organization

World Health Organization

Focus countries

We know that those closest to health and development challenges are in the best position to address them. That is why we work alongside local partners across Africa to contribute funding and scientific expertise in support of their goals for change.

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Burkina Faso

Working with partners in Burkina Faso, we support projects that aim to empower women and girls, transform the agricultural economy, and combat infectious diseases.

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Ethopia

As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda French Gates shapes and approves the foundation’s strategies, reviews results, and sets the organization’s overall direction.

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https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/4our-work/places/africa/africakenya_ga11864626_dc587103_2000x1125.jpg?rev=a8de4524bf814bbeafb1345187f92b56&w=2000&hash=2A2C9FC1550E0695BBD3644276BB1944

Kenya

In Kenya, our work focuses on areas of overlap between our expertise and the government’s priorities under the Kenya Vision 2030 development blueprint and the country’s United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include primary health care and gender equality.

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Nigeria

Ashish Dhawan is the founder and CEO of the Convergence Foundation (TCF), which is focused on accelerating India’s economic growth and development. He is also the chairperson of Ashoka University.

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https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/4our-work/places/africa/africasa_ga11111532_sr560220_1600x900.jpg?rev=51060977df93418fb220c8990d3feb93&w=1600&hash=F808D6616F52275F8CE144AD4A833B54

South Africa

We work with partners in South Africa to advance research and solutions that address the country’s areas of greatest need, including HIV and tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment and progress in gender equality.

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Latest updates

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Ending neglect, ending disease: River blindness in West Africa

To eliminate devastating tropical diseases, affected countries must make a serious financial commitment and donors and partners must cede ownership of programs to the people on the ground who understand what needs to be done

Daniel Boakye

Senior Technical Advisor, END Fund

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20211103-syringe-vaccine-distribution-in-africa/heroideasarticleqasyringe110321ga16086336sc6143881600x1000.jpg?rev=f643f4c495784b1ca34d46c0660b34f2&w=1300&hash=25B90FF9D7D693E270CF826F18F6FA5C

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Amid surging demand for syringes, a new investment supports long-term supply on the African continent

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has led to a looming shortage of syringes for low- and middle-income countries that could impact immunization programs. A new foundation grant to a Kenyan medical supply company will help increase syringe supply and geographically diversify the supplier base.

Surabhi Rajaram

Program Officer, Global Delivery Programs, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20230705-mark-suzman-photos-kenya/hero_ideas_mark-kenya_ga17105295_bo649482_07052023_1600x1000.jpg?rev=79c65591ed19421097b31d13d948d6ab&w=1300&hash=91B2F43AF5ABB1F47C6B8CE94AABA501

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AI, baby chicks, and salty crickets: CEO mark Suzman in Kenya

Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman shares photos from his recent trip to Kenya, where he spent time learning from partners about new solutions in AI...and crickets.

Mark Suzman

CEO, Board Member, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20230607-goalkeepers-six-picks-thulile-khanyile/six-picks_thulile-khanyile.jpg?rev=824442487a1e45e4a3d8dd4bb4ec0cfd&w=1300&hash=1E7816D472D52DED87C81E2134CA7E9A

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Six picks from scientist Thulile Khanyile

When you need to look at a problem in a new light, turn to this South Africa scientists's recommendations

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20230601-maternal-newborn-health-innovation-policy-imnhc-2023/hero_ideas_imnhc_ga1277818_fc142060_06012023.jpg?rev=f5930487b0034c59babeb8ad1c2de942&w=1300&hash=4FC000FDA69444015AEE34592965565B

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I joined 1,800 maternal health experts in Cape Town. What i heard gave me hope for moms and newborns

Progress against maternal and newborn motarlity has stalled. But Dr. Sanjana Brardwaj says that new innovations and approaches could make pregnancy and childbirth safer for all.

Dr. Sanjana Bhardwaj

Deputy Director, Program Advocacy and Communications, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20230222-how-cemas-epidemiological-modeling-impacts-health-in-kenya/hero_ideas_cema-oral-history_kf_20230203-9_02222023_1600x1000.jpg?rev=ddd45f2dcbb444aeb628ef7b2b517f4a&w=1300&hash=839409C52397435E9B8ADFD4FCEF2E38

Article

Meet the innovators training the next generation of African data experts

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Kenya needed to slow the spread of the disease and understand its impact to essential health services. Three kenyans teamed up to help.

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/4our-work/places/africa/africasa_ga11111532_sr560220_1600x900.jpg?rev=51060977df93418fb220c8990d3feb93&w=1600&hash=F808D6616F52275F8CE144AD4A833B54

Article

To support innovators in Africa, create an environment where Africa R&D thrives

"We are best placed to answer the questions that impact us most" A conversation with Isabella Oyier and Abdoulaye Djimde

Abdoulaye Djimde and Isabella Oyier

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20220318-war-in-ukraine-and-global-food-crisis/hero_ideas_ukrainefoodsecurity_getty_1239230613_03182022_1600x1000.jpg?rev=8235940c2b284e1dbf8a6c764a47d0d5&w=1300&hash=76C7C21C909C4594DC93B4F2DE492798

Article

The world food system is under threat. It doesn't have to be that way.

Ukriane-related spikes in food prices are only the lastest evidence that the global agricultural system is broken. Governments around the world need to invest in a more resilient system that ensures a decent livelihood for smallholder farmers and prevents hunger in the face of crises of all kinds

Enock Chikava

Interim Director, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20220222-african-medicines-agency-improving-africas-health-security/hero_ideas_oumaramagetty1231343338_02222022_1600x1000.jpg?rev=376e60fa75844973b590c0a6becf8646&w=1300&hash=8C46915EB09278E86FCE48A9896B9EC7

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Africa's health security requires strong African regulators

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons about health security - not the least that, when health resources are scarce, African countries cannot necessarily rely on imports to protect their people.

Cheikh Oumar Seydi and Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki

https://www.gatesfoundation.org/-/media/gfo/5ideas_articles/articles/20211214-kenya-gender-equality-roadmap/hero_ideas_kenyagenderequalitycampaign__ga15533971_121021.jpg?rev=6a80f77048dc4e68b823504d6cc37688&w=1300&hash=425CCAC6551B07FAD3BE57D765A444A9

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Inside the roadmap for advancing gender equality in Kenya

In response to Kenya's grassroots organizing, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a dozen concrete, actionalbe steps to end all forms of gender-based violence by 2026. A roadmap is in place to accomplish this.

Samburu Wa-shiko

Regional Reprensentative, East Africa, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Our offices

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  • Abuja, Nigeria
  • Addis Ababa, Ethopia
  • South Africa

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