Africa CDC Launches Regional networks to Boost Vaccine and Health Product Manufacturing
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- Africa CDC Launches Regional networks to Boost Vaccine and Health Product Manufacturing
Cairo, Egypt – Teh Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has launched Regional Capability and Capacity Networks (RCCNs) in a significant move to enhance Africa’s self-reliance in healthcare. Announced during the 2nd Vaccines and Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum for African Union Member States in Cairo from Feb. 4–6, 2025, this initiative aims to foster skills growth, workforce training, and research and development (R&D) across the continent, addressing critical gaps in biomanufacturing. The establishment of these networks directly supports the African Union’s enterprising goal of manufacturing a significant portion of its vaccines locally by 2040.
This vision has been propelled by key decisions from African Union Heads of State and Government, including expanding the Partnerships for African Vaccine manufacturing (PAVM) mandate to encompass medicines, diagnostics, and other essential health products. The creation of a Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM) for medical products from African manufacturers further underscores this commitment, signaling a unified approach to strengthening the continent’s healthcare infrastructure.
Key Milestones and Financial Commitments
Africa’s journey toward vaccine independence has already marked significant milestones. The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), a financing initiative designed to unlock up to $1.2 billion over a decade, stands as a testament to this progress. This accelerator is expected to catalyze investment and innovation in vaccine production, providing crucial financial support to manufacturers across the continent.
Moreover, global donors and development finance institutions have pledged over $3.5 billion to support these efforts. notably, the Cairo-based Afreximbank has committed $2 billion to invigorate Africa’s health product manufacturing sector, providing crucial financial backing.This substantial financial commitment underscores the global recognition of Africa’s potential to become a major player in vaccine and health product manufacturing.
A recent survey conducted by Africa CDC has identified a robust manufacturing landscape,revealing 574 manufacturers across the continent,including 25 dedicated to vaccine production. Of these, 10 already possess installed capacity. Projections indicate that between 2025 and 2030, three African vaccine manufacturers are expected to produce and secure World Health Institution (WHO) Prequalification for eight vaccines, positioning them to supply both the continental market and beyond.This achievement would mark a significant step towards reducing Africa’s reliance on imported vaccines and strengthening its healthcare security.
The Role of Regional Capability and Capacity Networks (RCCNs)
The RCCNs are strategically designed to address a major bottleneck in Africa’s health manufacturing sector: the shortage of skilled professionals in biomanufacturing,R&D,and regulatory affairs. These networks will serve as vital links between training institutions, manufacturers, R&D organizations, and national regulatory authorities. By establishing structured and enduring training programs, the RCCNs aim to significantly advance Africa’s health products manufacturing sector.
During the official launch of the RCCN Secretariats, Africa CDC Director general, Dr. Jean Kaseya, emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative for workforce development in biomanufacturing.
This declaration marked the completion of a rigorous selection process to identify leading institutions that will coordinate efforts in each region.
dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director General
The selection process, initiated in early 2024 with an open call for proposals, involved a panel of self-reliant experts who meticulously reviewed applications, interviewed shortlisted candidates, and ultimately selected institutions based on their technical expertise, training capacity, and potential for regional impact. This rigorous process ensures that the RCCNs are led by institutions with the proven ability to drive meaningful change in the biomanufacturing sector.
Regional Hubs and Their Missions
The RCCNs are strategically located across the continent:
- North Africa: Institut Pasteur du Maroc (IPM) in Morocco and The unified Procurement Authority (UPA) in Egypt
- east Africa: Africa Biomanufacturing Institute (ABI) in Rwanda
- west Africa: Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal
- Southern Africa: Council for scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa
Each regional hub will focus on addressing the specific needs and challenges of its respective region, while also collaborating with other hubs to share best practices and promote knowledge transfer across the continent. This decentralized approach ensures that the RCCNs are responsive to local contexts and can effectively address the diverse needs of Africa’s biomanufacturing sector.
Addressing the Skills Gap
One of the primary challenges hindering the growth of Africa’s vaccine industry has been the scarcity of hands-on learning opportunities, such as internships and structured workplace learning.This has made it arduous to cultivate a consistent pipeline of skilled professionals. The rccns will prioritize expanding training in biomanufacturing, R&D, and regulatory affairs, aligning with Africa CDC’s Vaccine R&D and Vaccine Manufacturing Competency Frameworks.
Dr. Chiluba Mwila, Talent Development Lead for Africa CDC’s Platform for Harmonised African Health Manufacturing (PHAHM), highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that the continent needs to quadruple its current 3,000 vaccine manufacturing and full-time R&D employees to achieve its ambitious goal of manufacturing 60% of its vaccines locally.
Africa faces three main challenges in its effort to develop the required workforce: insufficient relevant educational programmes, brain drain, and fragmented funding,said Dr. Mwila.Our strategy directly addresses these challenges to ensure we produce a world-class workforce that can support the vaccine manufacturing ecosystem.Dr. Chiluba Mwila, Talent Development Lead for Africa CDC’s Platform for harmonised African Health Manufacturing (PHAHM)
Addressing the skills gap requires a systematic approach to workforce training that encompasses not only technical expertise but also sustainable business and operational models. Dr. Abebe Genetu Bayih, PHAHM Coordinator, emphasized the importance of a coordinated and sustainable approach.
Our goal is to create an enabling environment where Africa CDC and its partners can support training and workforce development initiatives in a coordinated and sustainable manner.dr. Abebe Genetu bayih, PHAHM Coordinator
Looking Ahead
Beyond technical skills, the RCCNs will foster collaboration between research institutions and industry players, ensuring that Africa’s vaccine ecosystem is innovative and globally competitive. With the networks now established, Africa CDC will focus on operationalizing them, strengthening institutional capacity, and scaling up training programs.This marks a crucial step toward building a self-sufficient and highly skilled workforce capable of driving Africa’s vaccine and health products manufacturing ambitions, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes across the continent.
Africa’s Vaccine Revolution: Can Regional Networks Bridge the Skills Gap?
Is Africa on the cusp of a healthcare revolution, finally breaking free from its dependence on imported vaccines and medicines? The answer, according to experts, is a resounding “yes, but…”
Interviewer: Dr. Anya sharma, welcome to World-Today-news.com. Your expertise in global health and African growth makes you uniquely positioned to comment on the recent launch of the Africa CDC’s Regional Capability and Capacity Networks (RCCNs). Can you explain the significance of these networks for the continent’s future health security?
Dr. Sharma: The RCCNs represent a truly pivotal moment in Africa’s journey toward self-sufficiency in healthcare. For too long, the continent has been reliant on external sources for essential medicines and vaccines, leaving it vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and price volatility. The establishment of these regional networks directly addresses this critical vulnerability by fostering local manufacturing expertise and capacity building. This is crucial not just for vaccine production, but also for the wider biomanufacturing landscape encompassing diagnostics and other essential health products. The initiative directly supports the African Union’s enterprising goal of substantially increasing local vaccine production by 2040, a target that necessitates a major overhaul of the continent’s healthcare infrastructure and workforce development strategies.
Building a Sustainable biomanufacturing Ecosystem
Interviewer: The article highlights a significant funding commitment towards this initiative.How crucial is this financial backing to successfully operationalize these RCCNs and achieve long-term sustainability?
Dr. Sharma: The financial commitment,exceeding $3.5 billion from various sources including Afreximbank, is undeniably crucial for the initial setup and operationalization of the RCCNs. Though, sustained funding is paramount for long-term success. Sustainability hinges on a multi-pronged approach:
Securing consistent funding streams: Diversifying funding sources beyond initial pledges is vital to ensure the networks continue their work beyond the initial investment period. this could involve attracting private sector investment,exploring public-private partnerships,and securing long-term commitments from global health organizations.
Developing robust business models: The RCCNs need to operate efficiently and demonstrate financial viability to attract further investment.This necessitates the development and implementation of sound business models ensuring sustainability in their capacity building programs and research activities.
Promoting cost-effectiveness and efficiency: Careful budget management and efficient resource allocation are essential for maximizing the impact of the available resources, maximizing cost effectiveness.
Addressing the Critical Skills Gap
Interviewer: The article emphasizes the crucial need to address the skills gap in biomanufacturing and related fields. What are the key strategies the RCCNs are employing to tackle this challenge?
Dr. Sharma: the scarcity of skilled professionals is a major constraint to Africa’s biomanufacturing ambitions. The RCCNs are tackling this through a multi-faceted strategy including:
Targeted training programs: These networks are working to create and deliver tailored training programs focusing on biomanufacturing, research and development (R&D), and regulatory affairs, aligned with industry best practices.
Mentorship and knowledge transfer: Experienced professionals are paired with aspiring ones, facilitating a smooth onboarding process and transferring critical knowledge.
Partnerships with educational institutions: Collaboration with universities and vocational training centers is essential to create a robust pipeline of skilled professionals. This includes developing relevant curriculum for higher education and fostering more hands-on internships within the industry.
Interviewer: The article mentions the crucial role of the regional hubs. Can you elaborate on how this decentralized approach contributes to the networks’ overall success and effectiveness?
Dr. Sharma: The decentralized approach, with regional hubs tailored to the specific needs of each area, is genius. It ensures that training programs and capacity-building initiatives are contextually relevant and effective.This also fosters local ownership and better engagement with regional stakeholders. Collaboration between hubs also promotes knowledge sharing and best-practice dissemination across the continent.
measuring the Impact: Key Metrics for Success
Interviewer: what key metrics will we need to track to determine the effectiveness of the RCCNs and their contribution to Africa’s healthcare landscape?
Dr. Sharma: Measuring success requires a multifaceted approach. Key metrics include:
Number of trained professionals: Tracking the number of individuals trained and employed in biomanufacturing roles is crucial.
Increased local vaccine and medicine production: Measuring the actual increase in the rate of local production is a primary indicator of success.
Improved healthcare outcomes: Ultimately, the impact should be seen in improved access to essential medicines and vaccines, and consequently, better health outcomes.
Enhanced research output: Monitoring the rise in the quantity and quality of research coming out of the region will reveal the RCCN’s impact on innovation.
Interviewer: Dr.Sharma, thank you for these profound insights. Your expertise has shed significant light on the transformative potential of the RCCNs. this initiative represents a remarkable chance for Africa to achieve healthcare independence and elevate its global standing in the pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing sectors. We encourage our readers to share their thoughts in the comments section below and join the conversation on social media using #AfricasVaccineRevolution.