Devex Pro Weekender: Shock news at Gates Foundation and Women in Global Health

There’s been one story and one story alone in philanthropy town this week. That’s the departure of Melinda French Gates from the foundation she co-founded with her former husband more than two decades ago. As part of the deal, French Gates will get an extra $12.5 billion to put toward her own philanthropic endeavors. She’s expected to announce more about her plans for that soon, but given her track record it’s likely to go toward women’s empowerment causes. Simultaneously, since women’s rights have always been French Gates’ passion project, her departure raises a question about what will happen to the Gates Foundation’s gender work — although, according to a Devex analysis, it has spent just a fraction of the settlement figure on projects to empower women and girls. So either way, it’s likely to work out as a boost for women’s causes. Since it represents less than 10% of Bill’s net worth, the separation is also unlikely to dent the trajectory of the Gates Foundation overall. It’s far from the first time a foundation has been caught up in divorce proceedings. The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, one of the U.K.’s biggest charitable foundations, is one prominent example that springs to mind. Coming up: The World Health Assembly is rapidly approaching! Make sure you’re signed up for our exciting program of side events. If you’ll be there in person, Devex Pro members are also invited to join our Devex Nightcap on May 29. Meet global health leaders and enjoy a special performance from Indigenous performers from Brazil at this intimate event. RSVP now. Plus, a reminder that Devex is officially on Telegram and WhatsApp! Join our channels to receive updates on the latest globaldev news directly to your mobile device. Also in today’s edition: A “coup” at Women in Global Health, and lots of juicy job moves. Bits and pieces A mystery at WGH. Something’s going down at Women in Global Health, the advocacy network with chapters in 52 countries. Executive Director Roopa Dhatt, who has led the organization since she founded it nine years ago, has had her position mysteriously terminated by the board, which has also commissioned an investigation into governance, including areas such as financial management, delivery, and accountability. At the same time, in a development reminiscent of the legendary Onion headline, a man has been appointed chair of the board, sparking outrage among members of the self-described “women-led movement,” one of whom described the appointment process as “a bloody coup.” Until they see any evidence of wrongdoing, the chapters appear to be backing Dhatt, who told Devex that she was “saddened and bewildered by the actions of the board in recent weeks.” The board, for its part, is also denying any allegations of wrongdoing against it. Read the full story from my colleague Sara Jerving. CGD chief. In big appointment news, Rachel Glennerster will be taking over as president of the Center for Global Development. From September, she’ll succeed fellow Brit Masood Ahmed, who announced he’d be stepping down back in January. Glennerster is currently an associate professor of economics at the University of Chicago but previously served as chief economist at the U.K.’s Department for International Development, which later merged into FCDO, and executive director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, or J-PAL. She’s known for her rigorous evidence-based approach to development policy, particularly the use of randomized control trials. No Quams. Elsewhere, Lois Quam will be stepping down as CEO of Pathfinder International, after seven years at the helm — a tenure that has been marked by a tumultuous reform effort aimed at shifting power to country offices. Quam said the goal was to build an international NGO ready for a future of localization, but critics accused her of seizing power and creating a toxic work environment. Tabinda Sarosh, Pathfinder's president for South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, will assume the CEO role on an interim basis starting this week. Quam, meanwhile, will be taking up a new job in the U.S. health care industry. Musical diplomacy. Antony Blinken is at it again. I have previously reported on the U.S. secretary of state’s musical talents in this newsletter, and last week he was spotted in a basement bar in Kyiv playing the pointedly selected “Rockin’ in the Free World” with a Ukrainian band. ✉️ Do you have insights into any of this week’s bits and pieces? Let me know by replying to this email. Moving on Nadia Petkova has been promoted to managing director, impact and partnerships at EBRD. The U.S. Senate confirmed Courtney Diesel O’Donnell as the next U.S. permanent representative to UNESCO. Rebecca Chalif was sworn in as the new chief of staff for USAID. Eric Porterfield, formerly of the UN Foundation, has left Meta, where he was leading on comms for public affairs. He’s now joining Roblox (as he says in his LinkedIn post, if you don’t know what that is, ask your kids). And my brilliant former Devex colleague Alexandra Anda has a new job as communications manager at Humentum. Did we miss one? Is there a change on the horizon? Let us know at devexpro@devex.com. Job of the week Your Pro membership includes access to the world’s largest global development job. Check out our opp of the week: Job title: Vice president of people. Organization: Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. Location: CHAI program countries. Qualifications: Over 15 years of experience, including in leadership roles; prior experience with HR processes; proven ability to successfully lead complex change management initiatives at large organizations; and prior experience in a highly diverse and multicultural organization. Deadline: June 19. This executive search is supported by Devex Talent Solutions. Apply now, or find more executive-level openings. Up next Pandemic treaty … again. Countries will again engage in a weeklong marathon session in hopes of reaching an agreement on a pandemic treaty, just days before the start of the 77th World Health Assembly. Negotiators are planning to work overtime, with sessions running for 12 hours each day, focused on key articles concerning access and benefit sharing, intellectual property, and the critical issue of funding. May 20-24. Wellcome welcome. CGD is hosting a conversation with John-Arne Røttingen, the new CEO of Wellcome, the U.K.’s biggest foundation. They’ll be discussing the state of play in global health, what Røttingen hopes to achieve at Wellcome, and how he will balance science and diplomacy. May 23. Climate transparency. The Global Transparency Forum, which focuses on climate action and particularly the role of transparency in the Paris Agreement, is hitting up Tokyo this week. Representatives from the upcoming COP 29 and COP 30 climate summits are expected to attend. May 20-21.