• The 2nd Vaccine and Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum, organised by Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC) and the Unified Procurement Authority of Egypt, opened in in Cairo, the Arab Republic of Egypt.

• The Forum convenes African Union Ministers of Health, National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African Union organs, African manufacturers, manufacturers’ associations, AVMA investors, global and international partners, philanthropies and CSOs to discuss challenges and potential solutions to unlock the potential of local manufacturing, and ensure sustainable coordination efforts to manufacture vaccines and other health priority products in Africa.

• “At Gavi, we are committed to playing our role in this multisectoral effort to invest and build capacity across the value chain. Building a sustainable vaccine and health products manufacturing ecosystem would not only help meet the continent's health needs, it would also deliver economic growth and enable African nations to take charge of their health future,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Cairo/Addis Ababa/Geneva, 5 February 2025 – The 2nd Vaccine and Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum, organised by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC) and the Unified Procurement Authority of Egypt (UPA), opened in Cairo, the Arab Republic of Egypt this week.

The Forum convenes African Union Ministers of Health, National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African Union organs, African manufacturers, manufacturers’ associations, African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) investors, global and international partners, philanthropies and civil society organisations to discuss challenges and potential solutions to unlock the potential of local manufacturing and ensuring sustainable coordination efforts to manufacture vaccines and other health priority products in Africa.

Packed with panel discussions, partner presentations and reflections from Member States and RECs, stakeholders reviewed progress, opportunities and strategies to remove barriers that have held back regional manufacturing in the past, such as reforms to the region’s regulatory environment, continental demand and access to finance.

Since the inaugural Manufacturers Marketplace for Vaccine Manufacturing African Union Member States, held in 2023 in Morocco, tangible progress has been made towards achieving health security ambitions, including:

• The launch of Gavi’s AVMA, which has received donor pledges of up to US$ 1.2 billion over ten years to support sustainable vaccine production across Africa.
• The decision of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union that requested Africa CDC to establish a Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM) for medical products from African manufacturers and to broaden the mandate of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) to include manufacturing of medicines, diagnostics and other health products.
• Commitments of over US$ 3.5 billion from global donors, and development finance institutions like the European Investment Bank (EIB), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
• An increase in the number of African NRAs attaining WHO Maturity Level 3 status for non-vaccine products, reflecting improvements in regulatory frameworks essential for local manufacturing.
• The establishment of the RVMC with a secretariat to foster collaboration across governments, multilateral organisations, industry, civil society and funders, in support of regionally led strategies across regions to advance vaccine manufacturing.

A collaborative effort towards self-reliance

“Today’s meeting represents another step forward in Africa's journey toward health security. At Gavi, we are committed to playing our role in this multisectoral effort to invest and build capacity across the value chain. Building a sustainable vaccine and health products manufacturing ecosystem would not only help meet the continent's health needs, it would also deliver economic growth and enable African nations to take charge of their health futures,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“Africa’s health security depends on our ability to manufacture the vaccines and health products we need, right here on the continent. By strengthening regulatory frameworks, securing sustainable financing and fostering partnerships, we are laying the foundation for a self-sufficient manufacturing ecosystem. Africa CDC remains committed to driving this agenda forward ensuring that no country is left behind in the pursuit of health sovereignty,” said H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General, Africa CDC.

“RVMC is proud to co-host this event with our esteemed partners. While the world may not feel unified at present, the actions and ambitions from this year’s forum pave the way for achieving regionalized vaccine manufacturing on the African continent, thereby improving vaccine equity and health security for all. Progress will require bold leadership and innovative ideas, but RVMC is energized by the enthusiasm of this forum,” said Dr Frederik Kristensen, Managing Director of the Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative.

“This forum is a testament to our collective determination to build a resilient, self-reliant, and sustainable healthcare ecosystem for our continent. It takes place at a crucial time, amidst significant milestones that are reshaping Africa’s health manufacturing landscape,” said Dr Hisham Stait, Chairman of UPA.

Despite the barriers of a fragmented market, and gaps in access to finance and a specialised workforce, Africa’s pharmaceutical market present a tremendous opportunity to better serve the 1.4 billion population. The Forum provided an opportunity for all stakeholders to engage and elaborate on key steps to advance the agenda of local manufacturing, a key to independence and a must for Africa’s health security.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Meg Sharafudeen
+41 79 711 55 54
msharafudeen@gavi.org

Collins Weru Mwai
+250787836638
cmwai@gavi.org

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