SENEGAL – The African Union (AU) has secured a US $45 million financing package aimed at expanding Senegal’s vaccine production infrastructure in a significant move to bolster Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities.
This initiative aligns with the AU’s Vision 2040, which aspires to produce 60% of the continent’s vaccine needs locally by 2040, thereby reducing dependence on external sources and enhancing healthcare resilience across Africa.
The financing package is a collaborative effort involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
As the lead mobilizer, IFC has arranged a US $45 million package, comprising a US $15 million loan from IFC and an additional US $30 million sourced from partner development finance institutions, including DFC and AfDB.
The funds are designated for VaxSen, a subsidiary of Senegal’s Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD), to enhance the capabilities of its state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing facility, MADIBA (Manufacturing in Africa for Disease Immunization and Building Autonomy).
This expansion is expected to increase vaccine production capacity, support local supply chains, and establish a robust distribution network, thereby ensuring vaccines reach even the most remote areas of the continent.
The official signing ceremony took place on December 13, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal, with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in attendance.
This event underscores Senegal’s leadership in advancing shared public health objectives and its commitment to strengthening Africa’s health infrastructure.
Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of IFC, emphasized the broader significance of the project, stating, “Strengthening Africa’s health infrastructure is not just an African priority but a global necessity. Local vaccine production ensures a more equitable response to health crises, benefiting the entire world.”
This investment is strategically designed to address critical gaps in global vaccine supply chains, enhancing resilience against pandemics and preventable diseases.
By bolstering local vaccine production and distribution, the funding is expected to establish a secure and sustainable health infrastructure across the continent.
The initiative directly supports the African Union’s Vision 2040, a strategic roadmap that seeks to establish vaccine self-reliance on the continent.
By reducing reliance on imported vaccines, this vision aims to fortify Africa’s healthcare system, ensuring timely responses to both pandemics and endemic diseases.
This collaborative effort among multiple stakeholders, each bringing unique strengths to the table, marks a pivotal moment in delivering sustainable access to vaccines across Africa.
The expansion of the MADIBA facility is expected to drive job creation and stimulate economic growth while strengthening the continent’s vaccine production capacity.
