Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, arrives in Ethiopia for the first time since the epidemic began on September 1, 2024. This is a momentous visit. The purpose of this tour is to deepen collaborations with regional grantees and organizations that are committed to helping the Ethiopian people’s economic prospects and urgent health issues. In this exclusive interview with local media conducted ahead of his trip, Gates provided insights into the foundation’s long-standing commitment to Ethiopia, the obstacles the nation faces in its development, and the significance of teamwork in fostering a healthier, more prosperous future.
Gates’ visit highlights the foundation’s commitment to helping the Ethiopian government and its people overcome challenges and realize their development goals, with a focus on sustainable development.
“On this trip—my first to Ethiopia since before the pandemic—I’m excited to reconnect with our partners and discuss how we can continue working together to drive sustainable development. A lot has changed since my last visit to Ethiopia. Shocks like COVID, conflict, drought, locusts, and flooding have disrupted Ethiopia’s progress in recent years. It’s important that we assess how we can continue working together to get back on track and accelerate progress in health, agriculture, and financial inclusion.” said Bill Gates.
Replied to the question why Ethiopia is important to his Foundation Gates says “Foundation has a long-standing commitment to Ethiopia.Our mission is to help ensure that every person has the opportunity to lead a healthy, productive life,through ending preventable disease, poverty and inequality.We work closely with the countries and communities where we feel we can make the biggest difference.We’ve supported partners here for over two decades. And we opened our permanent Ethiopia office in2012—our first on the continent.In the years since, the foundation has built strong partnerships with local communities, as well as in both the private and public sectors.And with the continued partnership of these key stakeholders, we will continue working toward the common goal of improving the lives and livelihoods of Ethiopians.”
