About the Event

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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.