Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, founder Bill Gates has expressed worry over the future of global philanthropy and charitable giving amid rising geopolitical tensions.
In an interview with The New Statesman, the Microsoft founder disclosed the world is at an inflection point in the fight against poverty, inequality, and disease, a trio of issues that the Foundation has been grappling with for over two decades.
For Gates, the progress recorded since the turn of the 21st century could be eroded if caution is thrown to the wind by policymakers. Right out the bat, Gates pointed to advanced economies cutting off aid funding for underdeveloped nations as the first piece of the domino to fall, triggering a wave of unintended consequences.
Already the UK has pruned its overseas aid funding with the Global South bracing for further shocks from the US after Donald Trump assumes office. Despite the slash in funding, Gates has been urging the UK to maintain its leadership role in the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
“We have the moral clarity that we are all humans,” remarked Gates. “We owe it to the developing countries, particularly the low-income countries, to help them out.”
The second domino for Gates is the spike in global armed conflicts in recent years with the philanthropist noting that the ugly trend could erode progress. He added that trade wars between global superpowers are exacerbating the issue as he urged players to sheath their swords.
“The big wildcat is the global political thing. Wars are the way to go backward most efficiently,” said Gates. “Can we avoid both local and big wars? US-China is a big concern. Both sides seem to be getting better at irritating each other.”
Furthermore, Gates notes that bioterrorism and the prospects of deploying nuclear weapons in armed conflicts contribute to his burning concerns. He surmises that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies may provide a range of benefits but notes that they hang like the Sword of Damocles on aid efforts.
25 years of progress
Launched in 2000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has played a prominent role in addressing a spate of global issues. Perhaps, the foundation’s reach is most evident in global health given its massive vaccination drive and fight against tropical diseases like polio, malaria, and AIDS.
While championing the cause to reduce mortality rates, the Foundation has made significant strides to improve food security and education globally. With one eye peeled on environmental sustainability, the Foundation has triggered a chain reaction, forcing the hand of other billionaires to pledge their wealth toward philanthropy.