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.
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.
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.
Working with partners in Burkina Faso, we support projects that aim to empower women and girls, transform the agricultural economy, and combat infectious diseases.
Since opening our office in Addis Ababa in 2012, we have partnered with the Ethiopian government, donors, the private sector, and civil society organizations to help improve agricultural productivity and increase the coverage of live-saving health and nutrition interventions.
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.
Since opening our office in Abuja in 2012, we have worked closely with partners in Nigeria to make progress in key areas of health, including primary health care and polio eradication.
Our work in Senegal focuses on areas of overlap between our expertise and the government’s priorities under the country’s 2025–2029 national development strategy and the Senegal 2050 vision.
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.
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.
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 RajaramProgram Officer, Global Delivery Programs, Gates Foundation
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 SuzmanCEO, Board Member, Gates Foundation
Our offices
Sign up for The Optimist newsletter
Subscribe to The Optimist to get weekly updates on the latest in global health, gender equality, education, and more.
More about our work
Regional offices
We work across Africa from our regional headquarters in Johannesburg and our offices in Abuja and Addis Ababa.
Working with partners in Burkina Faso, we support projects that aim to empower women and girls, transform the agricultural economy, and combat infectious diseases.
Since opening our office in Addis Ababa in 2012, we have partnered with the Ethiopian government, donors, the private sector, and civil society organizations to help improve agricultural productivity and increase the coverage of live-saving health and nutrition interventions.
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.
Since opening our office in Abuja in 2012, we have worked closely with partners in Nigeria to make progress in key areas of health, including primary health care and polio eradication.
Our work in Senegal focuses on areas of overlap between our expertise and the government’s priorities under the country’s 2025–2029 national development strategy and the Senegal 2050 vision.
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.
