Gates Foundation Priorities & International Gender Equality Strategy

Australians Investing in Women (AIIW) was pleased to host a hybrid gathering with the Gates Foundation, bringing together Australian funders, government stakeholders, and philanthropic partners to explore opportunities leading up to Women Deliver 2026 in Melbourne and beyond.

Gates Foundation Priorities

The Gates Foundation outlined its strategic direction to spend down by 2045, committing $200 billion over the next two decades to maternal and child survival, infectious disease, economic opportunity, and gender equality. Within gender equality, priority areas include care, capital, and contraceptives, alongside leadership pathways and gender data. The Foundation highlighted the unique role of Women Deliver as a global platform for collaboration across governments, philanthropy, the private sector, and civil society.

Australia’s Role

While large new financial pledges are not expected, the Australian Government remains firmly committed to gender equality, guided by its new International Gender Equality Strategy and climate policy. As host of Women Deliver 2026—and potentially COP31 later the same year—Australia has an opportunity to showcase Pacific and First Nations women’s leadership and position itself at the nexus of gender and climate. Philanthropy was recognised as a key catalyst for unlocking government support and amplifying regional priorities.

Guidance for Funders

Participants discussed the importance of:

Coordinating early to shape collective asks and aligned announcements.
Investing in regional leadership, ensuring Pacific and First Nations women are directly represented.
Curating donor engagement through tailored sessions connecting global and grassroots actors.
Shaping accountable pledges that translate visibility into real outcomes.
Seizing the global moment by aligning Women Deliver 2026 with broader international policy arcs.

The conversation underscored Australia’s unique role as host, the power of collective philanthropic action, and the importance of centring Pacific and First Nations women’s leadership in shaping global gender and climate agendas.