Please note: You are using an outdated version of Internet Explorer. Please update to IE10 here to properly experience the ATI website.

30.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Fair

30_F_Gates Foundation

OVERVIEW

Have they met the Busan commitment on aid transparency? No.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the world, providing grants to support initiatives in education, global health and development, and community giving in the Pacific Northwest.

Read More...

ANALYSIS

Achievements and progress
  • The Gates Foundation consolidated the progress made on its transparency efforts between 2013 and 2014 and remains in the ‘fair’ category with a score of 46%.
Challenges and room for improvement
  • The Gates Foundation marked no significant improvement since the 2014 Index.
  • Budgetary information at the organisation level is not available at all.
  • Eleven activity-level indicators are not published in the IATI Standard. Of these, sub-national locations and tenders are always available but in a different format.
  • The nine other indicators, including important information such as evaluations, contracts, results and objectives are not available at all.
  • The Gates Foundation publishes data to the IATI Registry less than quarterly.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • The Gates Foundation should publish at least quarterly, if not monthly.
  • The Gates Foundation should publish a full organisation file to the IATI Registry which includes the organisation’s budgets.
  • The Gates Foundation should improve the publication of information on its development activities to include in priority activity-related documents and performance data.

Close

DONOR PROFILE

2016 Index Score:

Fair

46.0%

2014 Index Score:

Fair

46.6%

2013 Index Score:

Very Poor

18.1%


First published to IATI:

March 2014



Download profile as PDF
View donor progress over time

INDICATOR SCORING

TOTAL

46.0%

SECTION A

COMMITMENT TO
AID TRANSPARENCY:

3.45/10

SECTION B

PUBLICATION
ORGANISATION LEVEL:

15.42/25

SECTION C

PUBLICATION
ACTIVITY LEVEL:

27.13/65

Commitment

1. FOIA

2. Implementation Schedules

3. Accessibility

Publication Status
Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Information-Sharing-Approach

Comments

Disclosure policies are scored according to 3 criteria: 1/ presumption of disclosure 2/ limitations on commercially sensitive and third party information and internal deliberations 3/ independent appeal process. The Gates Foundation scores for presumption of disclosure.


    Click here to view history

1. FOIA

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Information-Sharing-Approach
We use three criteria for scoring disclosure policies (please see box 2 on p.18 of the 2016 Technical Paper). The Gates Expand...Foundation’s Transparency Philosophy/Information Sharing Approach has been checked against the three criteria.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Information-Sharing-Approach
I only wonder if satisfying 2/3 of the criteria entitles us to 2/3 of the score, I presume not because we Expand...don’t sufficiently satisfy the public interest override. Simply some clarity on what we need to do is appreciated.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Information-Sharing-Approach
Disclosure policies are scored according to 3 criteria: 1/ presumption of disclosure 2/ limitations on commercially sensitive and third party information Expand...and internal deliberations 3/ independent appeal process. The Gates Foundation scores for presumption of disclosure.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Information-Sharing-Approach
Disclosure policies are scored according to 3 criteria: 1/ presumption of disclosure 2/ limitations on commercially sensitive and third party information Expand...and internal deliberations 3/ independent appeal process. The Gates Foundation scores for presumption of disclosure.
Publication Status
Source

http://2016tracker.publishwhatyoufund.org/plan/organisations/

Comments

No data available.


    Click here to view history

2. Implementation schedules

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

http://2016tracker.publishwhatyoufund.org/plan/organisations/
Based on Publish What You Fund's analysis of IATI/Common Standard implementation schedules. The score is based on the percentage of fields Expand...published to IATI, the frequency of publication and the licence under which the data is published. The methodology can be found in the 'Plan' section of the Tracker.
http://2016tracker.publishwhatyoufund.org/plan/organisations/
I understand our score is limited due to not publishing more frequently than annually.
http://2016tracker.publishwhatyoufund.org/plan/organisations/
http://2016tracker.publishwhatyoufund.org/plan/organisations/
Publication Status
Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database

Comments

Raw IATI files are not accepted for this indicator as the underlying principle behind this is to assess what organisations are doing to promote access and use of their aid information. Publication to IATI is taken into accounts for the publication indicators.


    Click here to view history

3. Accessibility

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database
Portals are scored using three criteria: 1) the portal allows free, bulk export of data; 2) it contains detailed disaggregated data; Expand...3) the data is published under an open licence. Each of these carry 1/3rd of the total points of 100. Scores for detailed disaggregated data by meeting a minimum of five activity indicators.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database
We did this year allow for people to directly download our data via this page, http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Information-Sharing-Approach/International-Aid-Transparency-Initiative. Can you please advise if Expand...this is sufficient?
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database
Raw IATI files are not accepted for this indicator as the underlying principle behind this is to assess what organisations are Expand...doing to promote access and use of their aid information. Publication to IATI is taken into accounts for the publication indicators.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database
Raw IATI files are not accepted for this indicator as the underlying principle behind this is to assess what organisations are Expand...doing to promote access and use of their aid information. Publication to IATI is taken into accounts for the publication indicators.

Planning

Planning

Financial

Financial

4. Organisation Strategy

5. Annual Report

6. Allocation Policy

7. Procurement Policy

8. Country Strategy

9. Total Budget

10. Disaggregated Budgets

11. Audit

Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

Always

Format: Document

Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Agricultural-Development#OurStrategy http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Health/HIV

Comments

Sectoral country strategies are now accepted under the 2.01 IATI standard.


    Click here to view history

8. Country strategy

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Always
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Agricultural-Development#OurStrategy http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Health/HIV
Thematic strategies are published on website.
Always
Document
Wanted to see once more if we can get any further credit acknowledging that we are not able to detail budget Expand...information and we don’t plan by country, more by theme / issue.
Document
Always
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Agricultural-Development#OurStrategy http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Health/HIV
Sectoral country strategies are now accepted under the 2.01 IATI standard. Any update by January 15th will be accepted.
Document
Always
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Agricultural-Development#OurStrategy http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Health/HIV
Sectoral country strategies are now accepted under the 2.01 IATI standard.
Publication Status
Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/Resources-and-Media/Annual-Reports/Annual-Report-2014

Comments

No forward-looking budget information could be found.


    Click here to view history

9. Total budget

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/Resources-and-Media/Annual-Reports/Annual-Report-2014
No forward-looking budget information could be found.
Not published
We do not have a present intention to publish budget information.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/Resources-and-Media/Annual-Reports/Annual-Report-2014
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/Resources-and-Media/Annual-Reports/Annual-Report-2014
No forward-looking budget information could be found.
Publication Status
Source

No data available.

Comments

No forward-looking budget information could be found.


    Click here to view history

10. Disaggregated budgets

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
No forward-looking budget information could be found.
Not published
We do not have a present intention to publish budget information.
No forward-looking budget information could be found.
Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Basic

Classifications

Financial

Performance

12. Implementer

13. Unique ID

14. Title

15. Description

16. Planned Dates

17. Actual Dates

18. Current Status

19. Contact Details

20. Collaboration Type

21. Flow Type

22. Aid Type

23. Finance Type

24. Sector

25. Sub-national Location

26. Tied Aid Status

27. MoU

28. Evaluations

29. Objectives

30. Budget Docs

31. Contracts

32. Tenders

33. Budget

34. Commitments

35. Disbursements And Expenditure

36. Budget Identifier

37. Results

38. Impact Appraisals

39. Conditions

Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 96.67%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 97.83%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 99.96%


Publication Status

Always

Format: Machine-readable

Source

http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-grants-list http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-api-and-querybuilder

Comments

The Index looks at flows of funds from the donor organisation to the recipient. Therefore the information provided by BMGF is accepted in line with the scoring guidelines.


    Click here to view history

25. Sub-national location

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Always
Machine readable
http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-grants-list http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-api-and-querybuilder
The 'grantee location' field goes beyond the country (e.g. to city). This information is also available in a machine readable format Expand...(see link 2)
Always
Machine readable
Our website provides the specific location of a grantee, is that what we get credit for? My only worry with this Expand...is that the location of a grantee is not necessarily the location of the work.
Always
Machine readable
http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-grants-list http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-api-and-querybuilder
The Index looks at flows of funds from the donor organisation to the recipient. Therefore the information provided by BMGF is Expand...accepted in line with the scoring guidelines.
Always
Machine readable
http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-grants-list http://glasspockets.org/philanthropy-in-focus/reporting-commitment-api-and-querybuilder
The Index looks at flows of funds from the donor organisation to the recipient. Therefore the information provided by BMGF is Expand...accepted in line with the scoring guidelines.
Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 100%


Publication Status

Not Published

Source

No data available.

Comments

This information could not be found.


    Click here to view history

27. MoU

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Document
The equivalent for the MoU would be a contract document or grant letter, that defined the grant partnership and set out Expand...related terms and conditions. This information could not be found.
Not published
Document
We do not presently publish MoUs.
Document
Not published
Document
Document
Not published
Document
This information could not be found.
Publication Status

Not Published

Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Evaluation-Policy

Comments

This information could not be found.


    Click here to view history

28. Evaluations

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Evaluation-Policy
This information could not be found.
Not published
Document
We presently publish evaluations through our partners on their websites and through scientific journals.
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Evaluation-Policy
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Evaluation-Policy
This information could not be found.
Publication Status

Not Published

Source

No data available.

Comments

This information could not be found.


    Click here to view history

29. Objectives

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Document
The detailed objectives could not be found.
Not published
Document
We presently do not publish objectives beyond what is detailed as part of our thematic strategies.
Document
Not published
Document
Document
Not published
Document
This information could not be found.
Publication Status

Not Published

Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821

Comments

Budget documents relating to specific projects could not be located.


    Click here to view history

30. Budget Docs

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
Budget documents relating to specific projects could not be located.
Not published
Document
We do not have a present intention to publish budget information.
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
Budget documents relating to specific projects could not be located.
Publication Status

Not Published

Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821

Comments

This information could not be found.


    Click here to view history

31. Contracts

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
The equivalent for the tender contract document would be a contract document or grant letter, that defined the grant partnership and Expand...set out related terms and conditions. This information could not be found.
Not published
Document
We do not have a present intention to publish contracts.
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
This information could not be found.
Publication Status

Always

Format: Document

Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Grant-Opportunities https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/documents/loi_instructions.pdf

Comments

The Foundation puts out calls for letters of enquiry (LOIs) and requests for proposals. This is treated as equivalent information as per the scoring guidelines for this indicator. Tenders is an activity level indicator in IATI. Information on tenders specific to individual activities need to be published in IATI activity as per the current Standard.


    Click here to view history

32. Tenders

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Always
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Grant-Opportunities https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/documents/loi_instructions.pdf
The Foundation puts out calls for letters of enquiry (LOIs) and requests for proposals. This is treated as equivalent information as Expand...per the scoring guidelines for this indicator. Tenders is an activity level indicator in IATI. Information on tenders specific to individual activities need to be published in IATI activity as per the current Standard.
Always
Document
Beyond our grant opportunities page we have difficulty understanding what we need to reflect at the activity level. We don’t have Expand...a systematic way to designate that a grant originated from a tender but we also need to better understand why this is important and what information you would need. What do other partners do in this regard?
Document
Always
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Grant-Opportunities https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/documents/loi_instructions.pdf
The Foundation puts out calls for letters of enquiry (LOIs) and requests for proposals. This is treated as equivalent information as Expand...per the scoring guidelines for this indicator. Tenders is an activity level indicator in IATI. Information on tenders specific to individual activities need to be published in IATI activity as per the current Standard.
Document
Always
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Grant-Opportunities https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/documents/loi_instructions.pdf
The Foundation puts out calls for letters of enquiry (LOIs) and requests for proposals. This is treated as equivalent information as Expand...per the scoring guidelines for this indicator. Tenders is an activity level indicator in IATI. Information on tenders specific to individual activities need to be published in IATI activity as per the current Standard.
Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 61.35%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 99.96%


Publication Status

IATI

Data quality: 98.78%


Publication Status

Not Published

Source

No data available.

Comments

This information cannot be found.


    Click here to view history

36. Budget Identifier

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Always
Iati
Always
Iati
Not published
This information cannot be found.
Not published
This information cannot be found.
Publication Status

Not Published

Source

No data available.

Comments

This information could not be found.


    Click here to view history

37. Results

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Comprehensive results information relating to individual projects could not be found.
Not published
We do not presently publish our results.
Not published
Not published
This information could not be found.
Publication Status

Not Published

Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821

Comments

This information could not be found.


    Click here to view history

38. Impact Appraisals

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
This information could not be found.
Not published
Document
We do not presently publish our results.
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
This information could not be found.
Publication Status

Not Published

Source

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821

Comments

This information could not be found.


    Click here to view history

39. Conditions

Stage

Status

Format

Source

Comments

Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
There are no conditions published for individual projects.
Not published
Document
We do not presently publish our conditions.
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
Document
Not published
Document
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1134774 http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2015/08/OPP1126821
This information could not be found.