Bill Gates says governments should be smarter with aid

On a recent visit to the European Parliament (EP), Microsoft founder and major private aid donor, Bill Gates, presented his ‘Living Proof’ initiative to the EP’s Development Committee triggering a debate on private philanthropy versus government aid.

"Millions of lives can be saved each year," the founder of the Gates Foundation said. "The bottom line is that the aid community makes a difference and there are opportunities to do more."  

He urged governments to be smarter with their development spending.
Helping poor farmers to feed their communities, raising income and nutrition levels, enabling children to go to school are at the core of Gates's initiative. The ‘Living Proof’ campaign also distributes vaccines and seeks to cut HIV/AIDS-related deaths and mother-to-child HIV transmissions. "Better health conditions can address all the other issues that we want to improve", Bill Gates told the Committee.

In response to a question from a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) about being sure big donations go to the right people, Mr. Gates said, "some money will be misused (but)...less than 5 per cent.” "If you send money for vaccines, you can see if children are actually getting them,” he said.

Find out more about the foundation: www.gatesfoundation.org