NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, November 23, 2015

Chancellor George Osborne and Bill Gates have announced they are to join forces as part of the global effort to end malaria.

A new £1 billion Ross Fund – named after Sir Ronald Ross, the first ever British Nobel Laureate who was recognised for his discovery that mosquitoes transmit malaria – will be used to support the global fight against malaria and other infectious diseases.

The announcement is part of a fundamental restructuring of Britain’s aid budget to be set out by the government this week as part of the Chancellor’s Spending Review. Prosperity and security will be at the heart of the new strategy.

The mission to eliminate malaria builds on commitments George Osborne first made on a visit to Uganda, where he promised to meet the 0.7% ODAtarget and spend hundreds of millions of pounds to help the war against the disease.

After delivering those promises in the last parliament, this announcement will see Britain step up its role in working to end the disease – and others that threaten pandemics that could hit Britain.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have announced they will partner with the UK in this work, and have welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement.

The £1 billion will include a £300 million package focused on malaria and other infectious diseases. This will include: