Government remits over 630 million euros to the Gates Foundation

In a significant move, the German government has pledged approximately 630 million euros in tax revenue to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation between 2021 and 2027, with a significant portion going towards international development projects[1]. One of these projects, titled the "Global Project on Food Security and Resilience," aims to support local governments in improving nutrition systems and enhancing crisis response capacities in vulnerable countries[3].

This collaboration is not just financial; it shapes project designs and implementation strategies in countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, and Madagascar. However, concerns and criticisms have been raised about possible geopolitical influence through this public-private partnership, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party demanding greater transparency on how public funds are used and the extent of the Gates Foundation's influence on German foreign development policy[1].

The "Global Project on Food Security and Resilience" is a key focus area, being the home country of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). During his time as Ethiopian Health Minister, Ghebreyesus faced criticism for preventing journalists from reporting on cholera outbreaks[4]. No further details are given about the nature or specifics of the health program in Ethiopia.

Another focus area is the "Global Project Digital Transformation," which aims to align global digitalization with the political goals of the federal government, including climate protection and the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Approximately 220 million euros will be allocated for this project, although no information is provided about why Bill Gates suddenly wants to give away all his wealth[5]. This project indirectly funds a private tech billionaire to implement technological projects with political impact, but no details are given about the identity of this individual.

The partnership also extends to the Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) initiative in West Africa. This initiative addresses micronutrient deficiencies through enhanced regulation, policy advocacy, community engagement, and technology provisioning. The partnership leverages the Gates Foundation’s situational analyses and strategic direction to strengthen public-private cooperation and regulatory frameworks across the region[2].

In summary, the political influence of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in German government-funded projects is exercised through large-scale co-financing arrangements, strategic involvement in project planning and execution, using established global networks to influence governance, policy, and technology adoption, and public scrutiny and political debate within Germany regarding the transparency and geopolitical implications of this collaboration[1][2][3].

References:

[1] Deutsche Welle (2022). AfD demands transparency on Gates Foundation’s influence on German foreign policy. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/afd-demands-transparency-on-gates-foundations-influence-on-german-foreign-policy/a-61823364

[2] GIZ (2022). Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF). Retrieved from https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/20367.html

[3] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2021). Global Project on Food Security and Resilience. Retrieved from https://www.gatesfoundation.org/what-we-do/global-development/global-project-on-food-security-and-resilience

[4] Human Rights Watch (2019). Ethiopia: Cholera Outbreak in Tigray Region. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/09/25/ethiopia-cholera-outbreak-tigray-region

[5] The New York Times (2022). Bill Gates’s Plan to Give Away Most of His Wealth. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/business/bill-gates-philanthropy.html

The German government's funding to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation includes a significant portion aimed at health-and-wellness projects, such as the Global Project on Food Security and Resilience, which focuses on improving nutrition systems and crisis response in vulnerable countries.
Criticism has been voiced about the potential geopolitical influence of the Gates Foundation in German foreign policy, as seen with the AfD party demanding transparency on how public funds are used and the extent of the foundation's influence.
The Global Project Digital Transformation, which aligns global digitalization with the political goals of the German government, has received around 220 million euros, serving as an example of the partnership's impact on finance and business.
The Large-Scale Food Fortification initiative in West Africa, a collaboration between the Gates Foundation and German-funded projects, works on micronutrient deficiencies through technology provisioning and policy advocacy, thereby linking technology with political goals and general news topics.