The World Bank Group and the African Union Commission have launched a new initiative aimed at expanding Africa’s local manufacturing of medicines, vaccines and other medical products, in a push to reduce the continent’s reliance on imports and strengthen health security.
The Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing, known as AIM2030, was officially launched in Nairobi on May 12, with the programme designed to support Africa’s ambition to double pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity by 2030.
The initiative brings together governments, development institutions, investors and private-sector partners to mobilise investment, boost innovation and encourage South-South exchange on access to medicines, vaccines and other medical products.
“At its core, AIM2030 is about supporting Africa’s ambition to double pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity by 2030 through stronger regional manufacturing and supply chains,” said Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group.
Mr Diop said the initiative was not only about health security, but also about jobs, investment, industrial growth and economic resilience.
“Resilience cannot be imported in the middle of a crisis. It must be built in advance. That is why stronger regional manufacturing and supply chains matter,” he said.
Africa remains heavily dependent on imported medical products, with countries importing between 70 and 100 percent of finished pharmaceutical products and about 99 percent of vaccines. Less than one percent of vaccines used on the continent are produced locally.
The reliance on imports has left health systems vulnerable to global supply disruptions, price shocks and export restrictions — risks that came into sharp focus during the Covid-19 pandemic.
AIM2030 seeks to expand manufacturing of health products by Africans in Africa for African countries by doubling local manufacturing of key health products, creating skilled jobs and improving access to essential medical products.
The World Bank Group says the initiative will support its goal of delivering affordable, quality health services to 1.5 billion additional people by 2030.
The programme will focus on scaling manufacturing in Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa. It will also engage regional institutions including Africa CDC and the nascent Africa Medicines Agency.
The launch was attended by President William Ruto, who delivered the keynote address, alongside senior officials including World Health Organisation Africa Regional Director Mohamed Yakub Janabi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni and Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga.
Supporters of the initiative say local manufacturing can shorten supply chains, improve availability of priority products and bolster resilience to pandemics and other emergencies, while creating jobs and broader economic benefits.