NAIROBI, Kenya, May 23 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has proposed a fresh $189 million (KSh24.4 billion) investment to accelerate vaccine manufacturing in Africa, with locally produced vaccines expected to begin rolling out as early as 2027.
The funding proposal, under a new initiative dubbed AVMA+, will be presented to Gavi’s Board in July for approval. The programme seeks to address regulatory and market entry barriers that continue to slow vaccine production across the continent.
The initiative will also support the procurement of up to 70 million vaccine doses from emerging African manufacturers as the continent seeks to reduce reliance on imported vaccines.
Sania Nishtar said the investments would strengthen both public health systems and Africa’s growing economy.
“As our manufacturing partners continue down the pathway towards prequalification and full commercialisation, we believe that the new investments enabled by AVMA+ will accelerate the timelines for when African demand for vaccines will be met by local production,” she said.
According to Gavi, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s vulnerability due to heavy dependence on imported vaccines, with many countries struggling to secure adequate doses during the global rollout.
Although Africa accounts for around 20 percent of the world’s population, it currently produces only 0.1 percent of global vaccine supply.
The Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) was developed jointly with the African Union and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent future vaccine shortages during health emergencies. The initiative was launched in 2024.
Under the programme, Gavi committed up to $1 billion (KSh129 billion) in incentives for manufacturers that achieve key regulatory approvals and supply milestones.
Founded in 2000, Gavi is a global public-private partnership that supports low- and middle-income countries to improve access to vaccines and strengthen immunisation systems.
Last year, the alliance also committed to increase investment in fragile and humanitarian settings by 15 percent during its next strategic cycle, Gavi 6.0, covering the 2026–2030 period.
