The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) have solidified a new partnership.
The agreement, formalized during the Seventy-fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, signals a deepened commitment to advancing vaccine equity, fostering local production, and accelerating health innovation across the region.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed by Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, and Dr. Jerome H. Kim, director general of IVI, represents a strategic escalation in the mission to strengthen Africa’s self-reliance in health security.
It represents a joint ambition to build robust regional capabilities in vaccine research, development, and manufacturing, which are the foundational elements for pandemic preparedness and health sovereignty.
According to Dr. Janabi, the agreement serves as a pivotal investment in Africa’s health future.
“By joining forces with IVI, we are investing in the continent’s capacity to produce vaccines locally, respond to emerging health threats, and reduce dependency on external supply chains. It’s a step toward equity, resilience, and self-reliance,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Kim emphasized the transformative potential of the alliance.
“IVI is proud to partner with WHO to support Africa’s leadership in vaccine innovation. Together, we will advance clinical research, regulatory harmonization, and technology transfer to ensure that African countries are not just recipients of vaccines but producers and innovators,” he said.
The partnership will focus on supporting African-led vaccine research and clinical trials, particularly for diseases that disproportionately affect the region. The partners will also work to enhance the capacity of national regulatory bodies and promote harmonization of standards between countries.
Additionally, it will accelerate local manufacturing by facilitating knowledge sharing and investment in production hubs. The agreement further prioritizes building a skilled workforce in specialized fields like vaccinology and biomanufacturing, while also strengthening coordinated responses to health emergencies and outbreaks.
The initiative to boost local manufacturing is supported by a number of different partners including UNITAID, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance.
“The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the continent’s vulnerabilities: insufficient access to vaccines, fragile supply chains and overdependence on external markets. But it also ignited new resolve. For Africa to produce 60% of its own vaccines by 2040. With stronger political will and smarter collaboration, we can improve Africa’s ability to respond to the next pandemic—on our terms,” added Dr. Mohamed Janabi.
This collaboration arrives at a crucial juncture, as global health funding grows increasingly uncertain. Regional alliances like this are becoming indispensable to maintain momentum and keep the continent’s health priorities at the forefront of the international agenda.
This partnership embodies a bold stride toward inclusive innovation and regional leadership, proving that strategic cooperation can help ensure every individual in Africa has access to the lifesaving vaccines and medicines they deserve.
