In a recent op-ed, Microsoft co-founder and head of the world’s largest private philanthropic foundation, Bill Gates, has urged the German government to resist the international trend of reducing development aid. Gates warns that a reversal of this trend would not only benefit millions of people in recipient countries, but also have a positive impact on Germany itself.
Gates notes that the United States, his home country, has made the most drastic cuts to development aid and that many other wealthy nations, including the UK and Germany, have also reduced their commitments to the world’s poorest people. The total amount of development funds cut worldwide is in the tens of billions of euros, Gates claims.
The consequences of these decisions will be devastating, Gates warns, as they will lead to the spread of diseases, increased poverty and the deaths of millions of children. He predicts that 2025 will likely be the first year in this century in which child mortality rates increase.
Gates argues that Germany has much to gain by supporting health and development, citing the example of the Gavi vaccine alliance, which has helped prevent the spread of deadly diseases across borders through the vaccination of children in low-income countries. He also notes that the global health financing provided by countries like Germany was crucial in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, investments in development aid could also strengthen the German economy, Gates suggests. By financing health and development in Africa, Germany can create new trade partners and markets for German goods, which is of central importance for an export-oriented country like Germany.