Bill Gates warned that “humanity is at a crossroads” as he pledged $912 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria at the 2025 Goalkeepers event, according to a Gates Foundation. Gates spoke to over 1,000 global leaders about the urgent need to save millions of children’s lives before proposed cuts to health aid take effect. He said the choices leaders make now “will determine what kind of future we leave the next generation.” Global development assistance for health dropped 21% between 2024 and 2025, hitting a 15-year low. The Gates Foundation’s pledge brings its total commitments to the Global Fund to $4.9 billion since 2002.
Donor countries dealing with debt problems and aging populations have slashed funding for global health programs. Child deaths have been cut in half since 2000, from 10 million to less than 5 million yearly. But Gates warned that current funding cuts threaten decades of progress if they continue. The Global Fund has saved over 70 million lives since 2002 and reduced deaths from AIDS, TB, and malaria by more than 60%.
Gates outlined a roadmap to cut child deaths in half again over 20 years through new vaccines, long-acting HIV drugs, and artificial intelligence for faster medicine delivery. He wants renewed investments in proven programs like the Global Fund and Gavi, plus stronger primary healthcare systems. New tools include malaria prevention that stops mosquitoes from carrying parasites and maternal vaccines against deadly respiratory illnesses in babies.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez won the 2025 Global Goalkeeper Award for increasing contributions to the Global Fund by 12% and to Gavi by 30%. The event honored champions from India, Nigeria, Kenya, and other countries working on child health. Gates said “we can’t stop at almost” when it comes to preventing child deaths from diseases.
Gates announced earlier this year that he’ll give away virtually all his wealth and the foundation will spend $200 billion over 20 years before shutting down operations.
