The U.S. Department of State is awarding $150 million to Zipline, the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, to support the expansion of its life-saving AI and robotics infrastructure across Africa.
This pay-for-performance model, the first of its kind from the State Department, ensures that funds will be released only when African governments sign expansion contracts and commit to ongoing operating costs. This approach guarantees the long-term sustainability of the service within public health systems. Zipline already operates regionally in each participating African government, and this award will allow them to scale their centralized, on-demand logistics infrastructure nationwide.
At full scale, Zipline’s expanded services will reach over 130 million Africans, providing on-demand delivery that reduces waste, equalizes health access, increases treatment rates, and improves health outcomes. The expansion will triple the number of health facilities Zipline serves, growing to 15,000, and create over 800 high-skilled, high-paying jobs across Africa in logistics, health systems, and advanced engineering in robotics and AI. This will also generate up to $1 billion in annual economic gains by addressing the logistical and credit bottlenecks that often stifle commerce in many regions.
This groundbreaking deal represents a new, results-driven model of foreign aid that prioritizes innovation, scales successful solutions, and emphasizes long-term sustainability and mutual economic growth.
Zipline has been operating in Africa since 2016, partnering with national governments to deliver blood and medicines to over 5,000 hospitals and health facilities. Its work has been credited with reducing maternal deaths by up to 56%, decreasing zero-dose prevalence by 42% in one year, and cutting missed opportunities for treating severe malaria by 66%. Since its first delivery in Rwanda in 2016, Zipline has flown more than 120 million commercial autonomous miles and completed over 1.7 million autonomous deliveries with zero safety incidents, proving its ability to rapidly deploy life-saving technology to expand access and improve health outcomes across Africa.
Rwanda is expected to be the first country to benefit from this new award, with plans to build a third distribution center, double daily deliveries, expand into urban communities with Zipline’s new short-range precision delivery drone, and establish a flagship testing facility for Zipline’s global hardware and software product testing. Additional expansions are expected in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Nigeria.
“We started Zipline to create a logistics system that serves all people equally. Today, the U.S. government is investing in our mission, using our AI, robotics, and autonomous logistics system to improve health outcomes,” said Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, CEO and Co-Founder of Zipline. “For years, leaders across Africa have told me they want America’s best: innovation, jobs, and 21st-century technology to leapfrog into the future. Today, the U.S. State Department is helping make that vision a reality.”
“This partnership is a prime example of the innovative, results-driven collaborations at the heart of the America First foreign assistance agenda. With modest U.S. investment, these five countries will be responsible for maintaining and investing in a transformative American-built health commodities supply chain network,” said Jeremy Lewin, Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom. “By strategically deploying assistance resources to catalyze private capital, incentivize local buy-in, and support American businesses, President Trump’s foreign assistance agenda is bringing developing economies into the 21st century while helping America lead in tomorrow’s technologies.”
“African governments are investing their own resources in Zipline because it works and offers incredible value for money. It solves global health challenges like maternal mortality, malnutrition, and under-5 mortality,” said Caitlin Burton, CEO of Zipline Africa. “This award marks a turning point in foreign aid—the U.S. government is backing Africa’s vision, building the infrastructure Africa wants, and accelerating the adoption of American innovation that’s been proven effective and recognized as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions ever studied. It will change the future of human health and development in Africa.”
“Rwanda and Zipline have worked together for years to harness technology for the benefit of our people. We have witnessed the extraordinary impact of drone delivery—saving time, money, and lives,” said Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation. “With this partnership, we’ll now expand into urban delivery, bringing these benefits to even more communities. We thank the U.S. government for supporting Zipline’s expansion and for helping us build the foundation for Africa’s future in healthcare and innovation.”
“Nigeria, with its population of more than 200 million, faces unique challenges and opportunities in delivering healthcare equitably and efficiently. Zipline’s operations in three Nigerian states have shown how drone delivery can transform healthcare access—eliminating stockouts, creating new service points where there are no health facilities, increasing facility visits, and improving treatment rates and health outcomes,” said Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare. “We applaud the U.S. government’s support for innovations like Zipline, which could advance our vision of a healthier, more equitable future for our people, and we are working toward a sustainable partnership.”
“In Côte d’Ivoire, our priority is to guarantee rapid, reliable, and equitable access to essential health products for every citizen,” said Pierre Dimba, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage of Côte d’Ivoire. “Since Zipline’s operations began in our country, we’ve seen the tangible impact of medical drone delivery: faster supply times, improved product availability, stronger health facility capacities, and better services for populations, including those in rural and remote areas. As we expand this partnership, we aim to amplify these benefits, extending them to even more communities. This approach aligns with our vision of building a modern, resilient health system capable of innovating to meet tomorrow’s needs. We also welcome the support of the U.S. government in advancing this effort, which contributes to strengthening our health sovereignty and building an Ivorian model of excellence in health innovation.”
