Mark Suzman, Gates Foundation: Countries should be embarrassed

“The fact that we are now the world's largest funder of the World Health Organisation should be a major embarrassment to every country on this planet.”

Sam Fenwick speaks to Mark Suzman, CEO of Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropic organisation, about why he thinks cuts to global aid spending is costing lives.

He says the Foundation has overtaken world governments to become the largest financial backer of the WHO. Last year, the United States scaled back parts of its overseas aid budget. It wasn’t the only county to do so, with many governments including the UK, Germany, France and Japan all spending less.

For an institution with little democratic accountability, Mark Suzman is asked whether there is too much reliance on the Gates Foundation globally and whether its priorities are the right ones.

Thank you to the Business Daily team for its help in making this programme.

This interview was recorded on 29 January 2026. This is not mentioned in the episode. Since the interview was recorded, the BBC has reported on Bill Gates and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Articles include: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2vdekdweqohttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c309qv9zglnohttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnv6rjp468ro (7 May 2026) The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, and Samantha Power, former US Ambassador to UN. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Cordelia Hemming Editor: Damon Rose

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(Image: Mark Suzman Credit: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images)