Gates Foundation Chairman Bill Gates says African leaders need to prioritise investment in people, digital infrastructure and innovation as development assistance declines and governments face mounting fiscal pressures.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported that development aid fell for a second consecutive year in 2025 as donor countries redirected spending towards defence and domestic priorities. The European Network on Debt and Development says aid levels have dropped to those last seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many African governments to make difficult choices about scarce re
Speaking to CNBC Africa ahead of a visit to Rwanda, the Gates Foundation chairman said the current environment makes it even more important for countries to focus on high-impact investments in health, education and technology.
“There’s no doubt this is a difficult moment,” Gates said. “Development assistance is declining, and governments across the continent are facing hard decisions about how to prioritise their limited ree to invest in the interventions that we know do the greatest good.”
For Gates, Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in its people. By 2040, the continent is expected to have the world’s largest working-age population, creating what he describes as one of the century’s biggest economic opportunities.
“Africa’s greatest asset is its young people,” he said. “If countries continue investing in health, education and innovation, that demographic shift can become one of the greatest economic opportunities of this century.”
He points to a new generation of African entrepreneurs building businesses in artificial intelligence, financial technology, healthcare and creative industries, many of which are already competing on a global stage.
Central to Gates’ optimism is the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, which he describes as the most significant technological breakthrough of his lifetime.
“AI is the biggest technological advancement of our lifetime,” he said. “It has the potential to help solve some of Africa’s biggest challenges.”
He believes Africa is well-positioned to benefit from the current technological shift, much as it leapfrogged traditional banking systems through the adoption of mobile money.
“Every major technological shift creates new opportunities for people who are ready to build,” Gates said. “Africa has already shown that by leapfrogging traditional banking through mobile money. I believe AI, digital public infrastructure and advances in health and agriculture will create the same opportunity for this generation.”
His visit to Rwanda is partly aimed at understanding how long-term investments in people and institutions have produced tangible results. Since 2000, Rwanda has reduced under-five mortality by 80% and maternal deaths by 85%, achievements Gates attributes to strong primary healthcare systems, community health workers and effective public institutions.
“What stands out to me is not one particular innovation, but the way the country’s long-term investments in people, strong institutions and delivery are translating into real progress,” he said.
Digital public infrastructure (DPI) also features prominently in Gates’ vision for Africa’s future. He argues that interoperable digital payment systems, digital identity platforms and secure data-sharing networks can accelerate economic growth by expanding access to financial services and public support programmes.
“DPI is essential for economic growth,” Gates said. “When countries build digital payment and secure data-sharing systems that work together, it becomes easier for people to start businesses, access financial services and receive government support.”
He cited Tanzania’s m-mama programme, which uses digital dispatch technology to connect pregnant women and newborns with emergency transport, as an example of technology delivering measurable social impact. The programme has facilitated more than 150,000 emergency journeys and reportedly helped save more than 6,300 lives.
Despite growing concerns over shrinking aid flows, Gates remains committed to Africa’s development. Last year, the Gates Foundation announced plans to invest $200 billion over the next two decades, with the majority of the funding directed towards African health and development programmes.
However, he stressed that sustainable progress cannot be built on aid alone.
“Long-term progress will depend on stronger domestic institutions and leadership,” Gates said. “Our role is to support the priorities African countries have already set for themselves.”
