Philanthropist Bill Gates: “We have a roadmap for saving millions of children and making some of the deadliest childhood diseases history by 2045.”
The Gates Foundation has pledged $912 million to the Global Fund in a fresh three-year commitment unveiled on Monday at the Goalkeepers event in New York. The move comes at a time when global health funding is under strain, with donor countries slashing aid to its lowest level in 15 years.
Since 2002, the Global Fund has saved more than 70 million lives and cut deaths from AIDS, TB, and malaria by more than 60 per cent. Each dollar invested, the foundation estimates, delivers $19 in health and economic returns. The new pledge brings the Gates Foundation’s total support to the fund to $4.9 billion.
At the event, attended by more than 1,000 leaders from government, philanthropy, and the private sector, the Foundation chair Bill Gates said the world faces a critical decision. “Humanity is at a crossroads. With millions of children’s lives on the line, global leaders have a once-in-a-generation chance to do something extraordinary,” he told the audience. “The choices they make now—whether to go forward with proposed steep cuts to health aid or to give the world’s children the chance they deserve to live a healthy life—will determine what kind of future we leave the next generation.”
Global development assistance for health fell by 21 per cent between 2024 and 2025, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Gates warned that if these cuts hold, they could reverse decades of progress that halved child mortality since 2000, from 10 million deaths annually to fewer than 5 million.
“What’s happening to the health of the world’s children is worse than most people realise, but our long-term prospects are better than most people can imagine,” Gates said. “I don’t expect most governments to suddenly restore foreign aid to historic levels, but I am an optimist, and I believe governments can and will do what’s needed to save as many children as possible.”
The Goalkeepers event, now in its eighth year, focused on reigniting global commitment to saving children’s lives. Gates outlined what he called a roadmap to halve child deaths again by 2045. The plan calls for renewed investments in proven initiatives such as the Global Fund and Gavi, strengthening primary health care systems, and accelerating innovations.
Among the innovations Gates highlighted were new malaria interventions, including mosquito control technologies and single-dose treatments; long-acting HIV drugs that could replace daily pills; maternal vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus and group B streptococcus; and artificial intelligence to deliver medicines more cheaply and efficiently.
“An entire generation is alive today thanks to the world’s generosity, smart investments, and the hard work of governments and Global Fund partners,” Gates said. “Now, we must go further so the next generation grows up in a world where no child dies from preventable causes.”
The foundation also celebrated global leaders making strides in health. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was named the winner of the 2025 Global Goalkeeper Award.
Under his leadership, Spain increased contributions to the Global Fund by nearly 12 per cent, boosted support for Gavi by 30 per cent, and expanded development aid overall. Spain also hosted the International Conference on Financing for Development in June.
Ten other Goalkeepers Champions were honoured for advancing child survival worldwide. They included Kenyan HIV advocate Jerop Limo, Ugandan scientist Krystal Mwesiga Birungi, Nigerian actress Osas Ighodaro, Indian community health pioneers Abhay and Rani Bang, and British footballer David Beckham. American author John Green, German model Toni Garrn, Rwandan economist Donald Kaberuka, Indian paediatrician Naveen Thacker, and Emirati minister Reem Al-Hashimy were also recognised.
Kenyan HIV advocate Jerop Limo is among the ten Goalkeepers Champions honoured for advancing child survival worldwide.
Event session presenters included Rick Warren, pastor and author; El Hadji Mansour Sy, co-president of World Council of Religions for Peace; Ingrid Silva, ballet dancer and activist; Krista Tippett, journalist and author; Latif Nasser, co-host of “Radiolab”; and Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia’s minister of health.
The event’s theme, “We Can’t Stop at Almost,” was echoed by singer Jon Batiste, who returned as musical curator alongside actress Olivia Wilde and the PS22 school choir. Speakers and activists from countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, and Indonesia shared stories of resilience and showcased new technologies already saving lives.
“Every year, Goalkeepers unites changemakers to inspire and push one another forward,” said Dawda Jobarteh, deputy director of the foundation’s campaign. “Together, we can reimagine a future without preventable child deaths and unlock the next wave of breakthroughs for the world’s children.”
Looking ahead, Goalkeepers will expand to the Middle East for the first time on December 8 in Abu Dhabi. The foundation will also release its annual Goalkeepers Report, focusing on the impact of leaders’ choices this year on children’s survival.
Earlier in 2025, Gates announced he would give away nearly all his wealth and that the foundation would spend $200 billion over the next 20 years before closing down. Its three priorities will be ending preventable maternal and child deaths, eliminating deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions of people out of poverty.
For Gates, the stakes are clear. “We can’t stop at almost,” he said.