emirates7 - H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of the International Philanthropic and Humanitarian Council, welcomed Bill Gates, Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to the UAE on Wednesday.
The meeting, attended by Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court and a member of the International Philanthropic and Humanitarian Council, focused on reviewing the progress of collaborative initiatives between the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in global health and agriculture. They also discussed the role of AI in accelerating advancements in health, education, and food systems.
The two sides explored ways to enhance their global efforts to improve lives, including combating preventable diseases such as polio and neglected tropical diseases.
Since 2011, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has played a key role in the global fight to end polio, notably funding the emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza in September and October.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed and Gates also discussed the achievements of major initiatives announced at COP28, supported by both the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This includes the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, which was originally established by President Sheikh Mohamed in 2017 to target onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Africa. At COP28, the Fund was expanded from $100 million to a $500 million target, with the goal of eradicating both diseases across the continent.
Additionally, they highlighted the progress of the UAE-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Partnership on Innovation in Agriculture, which aims to accelerate action on climate change and strengthen global food systems. The partnership has supported various key projects that use AI and technology to address agricultural challenges and assist millions of farmers dealing with climate change. Investments include the CGIAR AI Hub and AgrilLLM, which explores the use of AI to offer extension services to smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries. Another project, the Red Palm Weevil Consortium, will bring together international organizations, governments, the private sector, and local stakeholders to combat the global threat posed by the red palm weevil to palm trees.
Gates praised the decade-long collaboration between his foundation and the UAE, commending the UAE’s deep commitment to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The meeting, attended by Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court and a member of the International Philanthropic and Humanitarian Council, focused on reviewing the progress of collaborative initiatives between the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in global health and agriculture. They also discussed the role of AI in accelerating advancements in health, education, and food systems.
The two sides explored ways to enhance their global efforts to improve lives, including combating preventable diseases such as polio and neglected tropical diseases.
Since 2011, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has played a key role in the global fight to end polio, notably funding the emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza in September and October.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed and Gates also discussed the achievements of major initiatives announced at COP28, supported by both the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This includes the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, which was originally established by President Sheikh Mohamed in 2017 to target onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Africa. At COP28, the Fund was expanded from $100 million to a $500 million target, with the goal of eradicating both diseases across the continent.
Additionally, they highlighted the progress of the UAE-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Partnership on Innovation in Agriculture, which aims to accelerate action on climate change and strengthen global food systems. The partnership has supported various key projects that use AI and technology to address agricultural challenges and assist millions of farmers dealing with climate change. Investments include the CGIAR AI Hub and AgrilLLM, which explores the use of AI to offer extension services to smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries. Another project, the Red Palm Weevil Consortium, will bring together international organizations, governments, the private sector, and local stakeholders to combat the global threat posed by the red palm weevil to palm trees.
Gates praised the decade-long collaboration between his foundation and the UAE, commending the UAE’s deep commitment to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable populations.