Belgium takes a key role in European initiative to boost African Vaccine Manufacturing

health worker preparing a vaccine

MAV+ (Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technology Products in Africa) is a European initiative that saw the light in the wake of the corona pandemic, and in which Belgium has taken a leading role through its expertise and bilateral, non-governmental and multilateral funding.

MAV+ is to promote production of and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa. In collaboration with the African Union and the European Union, it aims to increase African vaccine production to 60% of Africa’s vaccine needs by 2040.

After negotiations between the administration, Germany, France and the European Commission, the technical implementation of the initiative was entrusted to a consortium of three European agencies: Enabel, Expertise France and GIZ. Enabel ensures the coordination.

The activities aim to guide the EU, Member States, the African Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (Africa CDC) and the African Partnership for Vaccine Production (PAVM) on pharmaceutical regulation, technology transfer and intellectual property, industrial development and cooperation with the private sector, as well as research and capacity development. Among other things, this should lead to national regulatory instances eventually attaining a level of quality (‘maturity level 3’ in World Health Organisation terminology) allowing them to decide on market access for vaccines produced in Africa. To this end, collaboration in Belgium is ensured with Sciensano, the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) and QUAMED (Quality Medicine for All).

Other activities include the material equipment of laboratories, the digitalisation of the operation of African agencies, and the establishment of a master’s degree in biotechnology at the University of Rwanda in cooperation with the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).

Thanks to complementary parallel Belgian funding to the European initiative, Enabel will also support the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and the equitable access to quality health products in Africa. The coordination team, comprising about 10 people from Enabel, Expertise France and GIZ, is based in Enabel’s offices.

More updates and resources

congolose worker operating an electrical circuit News

15 May 2023

Co-creating innovative skills development solutions

With increasing EU investments in Africa, national economies can create more jobs and alleviate poverty at the local level. Enabel collaborates with the British Council, Expertise France, GIZ, and LuxDev to implement VET Toolbox.

Read more

News

08 May 2023

Thirsting for a global solution to water management

Enabel, VITO and the DGD organised a conference showcasing the catalytic role of water as a risk but also as a solution in regard to climate change.

Read more

two moroccan women during a hackathon News

08 May 2023

Innovation and digitisation, drivers to reform the Administration

In Morocco, Enabel assists civil servants in the public administration in strengthening their digital skills.

Read more

Pigs_Rwanda News

31 May 2023

Pigs do fly as boar semen takes to the skies in Rwanda

An Enabel-supported project in Rwanda that uses drones to deliver pig semen to vets throughout the country brings new meaning to the saying, Pigs might fly. 

Read more

une rizière au sénégal News

20 April 2023

Upcoming international conference: “Is climate change adaptation all about water?”

On 25 and 26 April 2023, Enabel, the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) are organising an international conference on the importance of water in the context of adaptation to climate change.

Read more

News

Activity Report 2022 – 2023

Read more

Stay informed

Keep up-to-date with our latest activities and international development trends from a Belgian perspective.

Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields