US EditionUS to Deliver Medical Supplies by Drone in Africa After Severe Aid Cuts
The investment will triple hospital access to Zipline’s medical drone network, reaching 130 million people across multiple African nations, supporting local jobs and health infrastructure.
- Nov. 25, 2025, the U.S. State Department awarded $150 million to Zipline, drone delivery company, to help triple its medical drone network across Africa, expanding near-instant deliveries of blood, vaccines and medicines.
- The U.S. State Department frames the award as a `pay-for-performance` model linking payment to results and building infrastructure powered by U.S. technology.
- Operational data indicate Zipline has completed 1.8 million autonomous deliveries with zero safety incidents, and independent research shows Zipline-supported facilities cut maternal mortality up to 56% and reduce stockouts by 60%.
- The deal tasks the U.S. with upfront costs while African partner governments must opt in and may shoulder service fees up to $400 million, with the U.S. State Department underwriting manufacturing, hubs, AI and robotics and supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs.
- The goal is to increase facilities from 5,000 to 15,000, potentially reaching 100 million to 130 million people and offering a model for other aid agencies.
16 Articles
16 Articles
US offers drone firm Zipline $150M to expand in Africa
The US government awarded drone logistics company Zipline $150 million to fund its expansion across Africa. The California-headquartered company began operations in Rwanda in 2016, pioneering the use of drones to deliver blood, drugs, and other health care products to and from medical facilities. It has expanded in recent years to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. The commitment from the US stipulates that funds will be released “only wh…
US to deliver medical supplies by drone in Africa after severe aid cuts
The U.S. State Department announced a new agreement to help provide medical supplies to several African countries via commercial drone delivery. It comes months after the Trump administration cut much of the aid funding to those countries. Supplies to Africa As part of the America First Global Health Strategy, the department announced a new plan to expand access to medical supplies, such as blood and medicines, to as many as 15,000 health facili…
Zipline to Triple Its Life-Saving Drone Delivery Network with $150 Million from U.S. State Department, that will be More than Doubled by African Countries
Zipline to Triple Its Life-Saving Drone Delivery Network with $150 Million from U.S. State Department, that will be More than Doubled by African Countries
US Government Commits $150 Million to Zipline to Rapidly Expand Access to Life-Saving Drone Delivery Services in Africa
The U.S. Department of State is awarding $150 million in Zipline, the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, to support the expansion of its life-saving artificial intelligence and robotics infrastructure across Africa. Under this pay-for-performance model – the first of its kind from the State Department – the funds will be released only when African governments sign expansion contracts and commit to ongoing operating costs, ensuring lon…
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