Development policy is about helping the most vulnerable people on the planet; it is about creating sustainable environment and providing job opportunities, schools and hospitals so people have decent lives. There is no disagreement about this.  Development community is divided, however, on how to achieve these noble goals. Governments, public and private sector, NGOs and academics argue about what works and what doesn’t in development.

Debate is good because it brings us closer to the right answers, but so far, nobody has found a “silver bullet” that would provide prosperity for all. But, I would argue that there is a password to unlock the potential of all good intentions – cooperation. This sounds rather obvious, but if we manage to work together better, avoid duplication in our efforts and learn from each other’s mistakes and achievements, then we will be able to address the needs of people more efficiently.

My meeting with Bill Gates today took place in this spirit of collaboration. Gates, together with his wife Melinda, runs the Foundation which aims to save lives and alleviate poverty. Bill Gates came to Strasbourg to meet with President Barroso, myself, and other members of the Commission, to discuss possible ways for joining up our respective efforts.

I knew that the Gates Foundation does an amazing job in many parts of the world. The EU also has a large expertise and positive track record, so if we combine our forces we can increase the efficiency of aid and lift up people out of poverty faster.

Take healthcare for instance. Bill is a strong supporter and a major donor for innovative mechanisms like Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) – which provides vaccines- and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). The EU also supports these organisations, in a complementary fashion. GAVI-funded vaccines have prevented more than 5 million deaths, while the EU focused on building sustainable healthcare systems, training doctors and nurses and provided systemic solutions. We invest in healthcare €700 million a year.

Donors’ coordination is high on my priorities’ list. We should never forget that through better collaboration in Europe, we could save between €3 to 6 billion.

We also discussed possibilities of a joint cooperation to heighten the impact of our respective activities in Agriculture. The Gates Foundation is a strong supporter to agricultural production, and research on crops and seeds for instance. I want to focus EU aid on agriculture and food security. We therefore mentioned possibility for joint work in some agricultural corridors in Africa for instance.  I am looking forward to implanting these ideas on the ground.

Living proof – aid is not dead

Bill Gates also introduced his campaign – Living Proof, which shows a different side to development – highlighting the stories of incredible progress being achieved by people in developing countries, backed by the support of donor governments. I am a strong supporter of this initiative, as it mirrors our aims, too. Europeans are entitled to proof both that their money is well-spent and helps people in real need.

I hope that Living Proof will spread the optimism and remind of the often forgotten success stories that prove the high impact of smart aid investments. We have to remember this and invest in better future.

Soon, these videos will land on the Living Proof website, but if you are interested how European contribution makes a difference, watch this:

Immunisation Nigeria, Kebbi State

Immunisation Nigeria, Kebbi State par EUintheWorld

A long walk

A long walk EN (short) par EUintheWorld

Women lead the way – Water and sanitation for life

Women lead the way – Water and sanitation for life par EUintheWorld

Food Facility

Food Facility VNR par EUintheWorld

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