From the newsletter
US-based drone logistics company Zipline has received results-based financing to expand access to life-saving medical deliveries across Africa. The $150 million funding from the US government supports the manufacturing of drones and deliveries of vaccines, blood and other essentials to reach more than 130 million people.
Autonomous medical delivery networks like drones are climate-resilient ways to supply medical goods and support emergency and disaster response. Investment in these logistic systems has grown in the past year.
In June 2025, Global logistics company, DHL announced a $575 million investment for transport and storage of time-sensitive medical goods like vaccines in Africa while Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals later launched Scepter360 Pharma, a digital platform that connects suppliers and customers and provides visibility from factory to pharmacy shelf.
More details
The Zipline funding, however, will only be released when African governments agree to expand the company’sZipline drone service and commit to future running costs. The $150 million investment is part of the U.S. “America First” foreign assistance strategy. African governments will match the funding with up to $400 million in utilisation fees to enable long-term operation of the drone network. The partnership aims to embed the service within national health supply chains and local infrastructure.
When fully scaled, the initiative could reach over 130 million people, service 15,000 health facilities, create more than 800 skilled jobs and generate up to $1 billion a year by fixing logistics and credit problems that slow trade and healthcare. Rwanda will lead the expansion with a third distribution hub and an urban drone delivery. Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria and other countries will follow.
Zipline’s operations currently cover Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya. Early deployments in Nigeria’s three states have already improved treatment, increased immunisation coverage, improved maternal outcomes and reduced medical stockouts. The system has safely completed 1.8 million autonomous deliveries since 2016.
Unpredictable weather and infrastructure damage linked to climate change are making traditional distribution unreliable. Drones offer resilient delivery and the demand for climate-proof delivery of vaccines, blood, emergency care and lab samples will grow sharply. Autonomous delivery networks (AI, robotics, electric fleets) are an important part of emergency preparedness and continuity of care.
Drones and other autonomous supply chain systems can also strengthen medical product traceability in Africa. This will reduce expired drug destruction and redundant deliveries which raise both emissions and costs. These pharma supply chain strategies help reduce chemical waste and carbon output linked to inefficient pharmaceutical logistics.
Our take
Results-based financing releases funds to governments or organisations only after independently verified progress on agreed health results.
Countries commit to targets such as improved immunisation coverage and development partners disburse money when those results are achieved.
RBF has strong potential in climate-health settings: it can incentivise countries to invest in epidemic preparedness or climate-related disease monitoring.