World’s largest drone delivery service gets $150M U.S. backing to boost healthcare in 5 African nations

The United States has committed $150 million to Zipline, the world’s largest drone delivery service, to expand healthcare operations across five African nations: Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.

The funding is one of the first major new global health aid announcements since the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign assistance, the dismantling of USAID, and the release of the “America First” global health strategy.

Officials have positioned the partnership with Zipline as a model for the new direction of U.S. global health support.

Zipline, which began operations in Rwanda in 2016, has pioneered drone-based medical logistics, delivering blood, vaccines, and essential medicines to hard-to-reach communities. The grant is expected to expand daily delivery capacity and enable the company to reach millions more people across the continent.

“The health systems don’t serve most people well. That’s not fair, and it’s not solvable with the technology you have. You can’t just pave every road, and electrify every site, and get everybody a working refrigerator that never breaks, and make sure nobody ever steals fuel or ever diverts drugs. You can’t do all those things,” Burton said.

Unlike traditional foreign aid, this grant operates on a pay-for-performance model, with participating governments signing contracts and committing to ongoing logistics payments, potentially reaching $400 million. State Department officials say the approach fosters sustainability while leveraging private-sector innovation.

Jeremy Lewin, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom, said: “This partnership is an example of the innovative, results-driven approach at the core of the America First foreign assistance agenda.”

“With a fraction of previous spending, Zipline keeps medicines flowing smoothly to patients, providing a more efficient and sustainable path for African health delivery,” she said.

She also noted that with the cut of US funding, she has noticed smoother transitions of medical materials in the supply chain as opposed to the clunky movement with the former system.

For Africa, the expansion offers a critical opportunity to enhance health equity and reach underserved populations. Governments in Rwanda, Nigeria, and Ghana are already planning to scale operations beyond urban centers.

Observers caution that the model shifts financial responsibility to African governments, highlighting the importance of economic stability for long-term viability.