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In their annual letter, Melinda and Bill Gates reflect on the unexpected challenges and lessons of 2018, emphasizing the slow progress in solving humanity’s major problems despite ongoing natural disasters and persistent global inequality. They urge action fueled by frustration and outline nine key “surprises” that shaped their perspective and drive their philanthropic efforts.
These insights highlight diverse issues such as Africa’s youthful population shaping the future, the growing role of DNA testing in health and justice, and the rapid expansion of construction which demands sustainable innovation to combat climate change. They also address critical social challenges: the scarcity of data on women in developing regions, the emotional management of adolescents facing trauma, and the misconception that nationalism opposes global cooperation. Additionally, they note the stagnation in sanitation technology, the shift from textbooks to digital learning tools, and the empowering impact of mobile phones on impoverished women’s economic participation. Together, these topics underscore the Gates Foundation’s commitment to leveraging innovation to foster inclusive economic and technological development worldwide, echoing broader discussions on technology’s potential to reduce inequality and build a fairer future.
In an annual letter, Melinda and Bill Gates list the challenges that drive them to continue to act against global inequality.
For some years now, Melinda and Bill Gates, Presidents of the foundation that bears their name, have written an annual letter where they review the global issues that they consider most relevant. On this occasion, they explain the 9 “surprises” that 2018 gave them.
Their letter begins by acknowledging that 2018 did not meet their expectations, and not only because of the natural disasters that have devastated part of the planet, but also because of the slowness with which, according to them, we are developing the solutions for the great problems of humanity. They claim that we still live in a world with too much inequality.
But they encourage us not to fall into discouragement, since this situation should prompt us to act. It’s only when people feel frustrated that their expectations aren’t being met that they take action.
This letter outlines the 9 issues that most drive them to take action to make the world better and better:
1. Africa is the youngest continent.
While the other continents struggle with longevity, Africa has an average age of 18 years. It will be young Africans who will shape the future of their continent, and the world.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=WO2yLOpJaK0%3Fenablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ffundbk.lradmin.bankinter.bk
Source: Bill Gates
2. DNA tests.
DNA tests continue to provide data on our genetic information, from identifying a killer to preventing disease or premature birth.
3. Construction continues to grow.
The growth in construction is expected to double the housing stock by 2060.
This poses a challenge in terms of energy efficiency, transport and logistics, and above all, a great challenge for the fight against climate change. Bill Gates says that part of the solution is to invest in innovation in sectors that allow us to continue building without destroying the climate.
For the experts of the Future Trends Forum, who met last May to talk about disruptive cities, there is no doubt that one of the great challenges for cities is to iterate towards sustainable models.
4. The data can be sexist.
They highlight that there is a huge lack of data on women, particularly in developing countries. This prevents the visibility of women’s reality.
5. We must learn how adolescents manage their emotions.
This year they have participated in a study where they analyzed how young people processed their anger in traumatic situations such as the death of a friend by firearms or the incarceration of a household member.
6. The nationalist argument may be in favor of globalism.
In a more political section, they argue that nationalism is not contrary to international cooperation. Not because you are a nationalist and care about the future of your country, you have to turn your back on the rest of the world.
7. Toilets haven’t changed in a century.
The Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation has participated in a toilet fair in Beijing where the creation of cheaper toilets was promoted with the purpose of reaching the more than 2000 million people who still do not have it.
8. Textbooks are obsolete.
All levels of education, students and teachers, are changing textbooks for software designed especially for education.
In this post, we already tell you how the Sadako school is leading the educational transformation by changing books for ICT.
9. Mobile phones are super powerful in the hands of the poorest women.
The mobile phone allows poor women to build a new life by helping them enter the economic circuit, from having a bank account to managing a trip.
These are the ideas that drive the Gates’ to act to continue their philanthropic work through the Gates Foundation and ensure that economic and technological development reaches all corners of the planet. And like them, we are convinced that innovation will play an essential role.
The role of innovation in alleviating the world’s inequality was discussed by the Future Trends Forum, the think tank of the Bankinter Innovation Foundation in 2016. Click here to see the report “Technology and Inequality: for a fairer and more prosperous world”.
