United States Commits $480 Million in Health Funding to Ivory Coast Under 'America First' Initiative

US and Ivory Coast Forge New Health Partnership

The United States has committed $480 million in health funding to Ivory Coast, formalizing the agreement on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Abidjan. This significant financial pledge is part of the 'America First' global health initiative, signaling a strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy towards a more transactional and partnership-based aid model.

The agreement was signed by U.S. Ambassador to Ivory Coast Jessica Davis Ba and Ivorian Minister of Finance and Budget Adam Coulibaly. This move aims to bolster Ivory Coast's healthcare sector, focusing on critical public health challenges within the West African nation.

Focus on Key Health Areas and Shared Responsibility

The newly established health pact prioritizes several vital areas within Ivory Coast's health system. These include combating HIV, addressing malaria, improving maternal and child health, and enhancing overall global health security. The initiative underscores a principle of shared responsibility, with Ivory Coast committing to contribute up to 163 billion CFA francs (approximately $292 million) by 2030. This Ivorian contribution will cover about 60% of the total commitment, as highlighted by Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé.

'America First' Strategy Reshapes Global Health Aid

The 'America First' global health strategy, initially launched under the Trump administration, seeks to promote self-sufficiency in partner countries and move away from what it identifies as inefficiencies and ideological influences in international assistance. U.S. Ambassador Jessica Davis Ba stated that the U.S. government is moving 'beyond the traditional aid approach toward a model focused on trade, innovation, and shared prosperity.' This framework aims to protect the American populace from infectious disease threats while reducing reliance on U.S. taxpayer funding.

Transition from Previous Aid Structures

This agreement effectively replaces prior aid structures that were managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Previously, USAID had invested approximately $115 million in Ivory Coast, supporting sectors such as health, education, and aid for refugees. The new approach aligns with a broader U.S. foreign policy trend that emphasizes direct negotiations with foreign governments to advance strategic objectives and foster more transactional, mutually accountable partnerships. This commitment to Ivory Coast is one of several similar agreements the U.S. has signed with over a dozen African countries, many of which had experienced reductions in American aid.