Zipline, the autonomous drone delivery company, has secured a $150 million investment from the U.S. government to scale its life-saving medical delivery network across Africa. The funding—structured under a groundbreaking pay-for-performance model—will accelerate Zipline’s expansion into national health systems and improve access to essential medicines for more than 130 million people.
A New Model of Foreign Aid: Funding Tied to Results
Under this model, the U.S. Department of State will release funds only when African governments sign expansion agreements and commit to long-term operations. This approach ensures sustainability, drives local ownership, and scales technology that is already proven to save lives. It also signals a shift in U.S. foreign assistance—prioritising innovation, measurable results, and mutually beneficial economic partnerships.
Scaling to 15,000 Health Facilities and Creating 800+ High-Skill Jobs
Zipline’s expansion will:
- Triple its network to 15,000 health facilities
- Deliver medicines, vaccines, and blood products on demand
- Create over 800 high-skill jobs in robotics, logistics, and health operations
- Drive up to $1 billion in economic gains annually
- Strengthen supply chains and reduce medical stockouts
Zipline has operated in Africa since 2016, completing 1.7 million autonomous deliveries and flying more than 120 million autonomous miles, all with zero safety incidents.
Its impact includes:
- Up to 56% reduction in maternal deaths
- 42% decrease in zero-dose children in one year
- 66% reduction in missed malaria treatments
- Significant improvements in rural health access
Rwanda Leads the Next Phase of Expansion
Rwanda is set to become the first country to expand nationwide under the new funding, with plans to:
- Build a third distribution center
- Launch a new urban precision-delivery network
- Develop a global hardware and software testing center
Further expansion is expected across Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Nigeria, where governments are exploring multi-year national deployment.
Leadership Reactions
Zipline CEO, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton:
“We built Zipline to create a logistics system that serves everyone equally. This U.S. investment accelerates our mission and expands access to life-saving healthcare across Africa.”
Under Secretary Jeremy Lewin:
“This partnership reflects a results-driven foreign assistance agenda—mobilising modest U.S. capital to unlock sustainable, transformative impact.”
A Transformative Leap for Health Access in Africa
The investment marks one of the most significant commitments ever made to autonomous health delivery. By combining AI, robotics, and national-scale logistics, Zipline is helping African countries build modern healthcare infrastructure that reaches even the most remote communities.
The expansion is expected to reshape the future of medical delivery, public health, and economic development across the continent.
