A Devex event in partnership with Open Society Foundations

Decolonizing global health through autonomous manufacturing in Africa

August 3, 2022

9 a.m. ET | 3 p.m. CET

Watch

About the Event


This event, hosted by Devex in partnership with Open Society Foundations, explored what’s needed to advance autonomous vaccine manufacturing on the African continent by drawing on lessons learned from a range of ongoing initiatives.

Africa imports 99% of its vaccines despite consuming a quarter of the global vaccine supply, leaving the region highly vulnerable and dependent on outside doses.

Countries such as South Africa and Egypt have already started to produce COVID-19 vaccines, and the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing has announced a goal for 60% of all vaccines used on the continent to be produced by African nations by 2040. Now the question is how to achieve that ambitious target.

During this event, a diverse group of voices explored:
• How Africa’s manufacturing can be better supported, including through improved financing.
• What’s needed to overcome challenges facing South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare, such as ensuring a sustainable business model.
• How the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing and the G-7’s Pact for Pandemic Readiness can support manufacturing on the continent.
• The role that international donors and agencies must play to support a thriving pharmaceutical industry, including with human capital, market shaping, and research and development.

Hosted by:

Devex

Produced in Partnership with:


Open Society Foundations

Schedule


9:00 a.m. ET

Opening remarks

• Rumbi Chakamba, associate editor, Devex.

9:03 a.m. ET

Improving financing for autonomous manufacturing in Africa

• Muthoni Wanyeki, regional director for Africa, Open Society Foundations.
• Moderator: Natalie Donback, associate editor, Devex.

9:18 a.m. ET

Panel discussion: How to advance autonomous manufacturing in Africa

• Dr. Githinji Gitahi, group CEO, Amref Health Africa.
• Dr. Mohga Kamal-Yanni, senior health policy adviser to UNAIDS.
• Dr. Ebere Okereke, a senior technical adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and honorary senior public health adviser to the director of Africa CDC.
• Petro Terblanche, managing director, Afrigen Biologics.
• Moderator: Rumbi Chakamba, associate editor, Devex.

9:58 a.m. ET

Closing remarks

• Rumbi Chakamba, associate editor, Devex.

Speakers


Dr. Githinji Gitahi

Dr. Githinji Gitahi

Group CEO, Amref Health Africa

Dr. Mohga Kamal-Yanni

Dr. Mohga Kamal-Yanni

Senior health policy adviser to UNAIDS

Dr. Ebere Okereke

Dr. Ebere Okereke

Senior technical adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and honorary senior public health adviser to the director of Africa CDC

Petro Terblanche

Petro Terblanche

Managing director, Afrigen Biologics

Petro Terblanche

Muthoni Wanyeki

Regional director for Africa, Open Society Foundations

Moderators


Rumbi Chakamba

Rumbi Chakamba

Associate editor, Devex

Natalie Donback

Natalie Donback

Associate editor and reporter, Devex