The African Development Fund has approved a grant of $11.96 million to expedite the establishment of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda. This financial support, combined with a contribution of $1.93 million from the Rwandan government, aims to facilitate the implementation of the Regional Pharmaceutical Sector Support Project in Rwanda.
Aissa Touré Sarr, head of the African Development Bank’s Rwanda country office, highlighted the potential benefits of the project for Africa as a whole. The foundation’s cutting-edge research and technological innovations are expected to enhance healthcare outcomes by providing access to advanced medicines and treatments, addressing prevalent diseases, and bolstering the continent’s overall health resilience.
The grant from the African Development Fund will help enhance access to advanced pharmaceutical technologies and strengthen the regulatory framework of the pharmaceutical industry across Africa.
The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, established with the approval of the African Development Bank Board of Directors in June 2022, has already signed a host country agreement with the government of Rwanda. It will serve as a transparent intermediary to promote and negotiate technology sharing agreements with pharmaceutical multinationals and other countries in the South, facilitating access to know-how and patents protected by intellectual property rights.
One of the foundation’s key objectives is to build the capacity of African pharmaceutical companies, encouraging increased local production through the adoption of new technologies and adherence to technological standards. It will also focus on enhancing human and professional competencies in the sector, fostering pharmaceutical and vaccine innovation, and developing the necessary skills to drive sectoral growth on the continent.
The grant will be utilised to procure office equipment and enable the Foundation to recruit experts and specialised technical firms to provide various health and pharmaceutical services. Additionally, the project will support information dissemination, consultancy services, training in good manufacturing practices, and knowledge transfer activities.
Collaboration with key stakeholders such as the African Union Medicines Agency, Africa CDC, the European Union, the World Health Organisation, and others will be crucial for the foundation’s success. Furthermore, partnerships with organisations like the European Investment Bank and support from Germany will further bolster its initiatives.
Overall, the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation aims to revolutionise pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa by fostering collaboration between public and private sectors globally and enhancing access to essential medicines and healthcare solutions across the continent.
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Source: African Development Bank
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