November 26, 2024, NAIROBI, Kenya/SEOUL, Republic of Korea – The Government of the Republic of Kenya and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish and operationalize IVI’s Country and “AVEC Africa” Project Office in Kenya. This agreement underscores a collaborative commitment to advancing public health through vaccine research and development, translational and field research, product innovation, and capacity building through workforce development, technical assistance, and technology transfers. This initiative is set to amplify Kenya’s efforts toward achieving universal health coverage.

 

The Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities in Africa (AVEC Africa) project focuses on accelerating vaccine research and development, and manufacturing across the continent by linking and enhancing existing African institutions and expertise across the vaccine value chain.

 

The AVEC Africa Office bolsters IVI’s strategic partnerships with Kenyan public health organizations, including the Kenya BioVax Institute, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and Kenya Institute of Primate Research. This collaboration will strengthen public health initiatives, research, and vaccine development capabilities, benefiting Kenya and the entire region.

 

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s commitment to advancing public health and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Through our collaboration with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the establishment of the AVEC Africa Project Office in Kenya, we are taking a bold step towards strengthening our local vaccine manufacturing capacity, improving health outcomes, and safeguarding our nation against future health crises. This partnership is an integral part of our ongoing efforts to enhance research and development, foster innovation, and create a self-sufficient healthcare system. By 2025, we aim to not only meet local demand but also contribute to vaccine accessibility across the continent, reaffirming Kenya’s position as a leader in health innovation in Africa.”

 

Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, said: “With this MOU with the Government of Kenya in place, we are excited to officially launch IVI’s Country and AVEC Africa Project Office in Nairobi. We are fortunate to have the strong support of the Kenyan Government as well as national health agencies and research institutions to realize the goals of AVEC Africa: a whole-of-continent approach aligned with the vaccine manufacturing goals of the Africa CDC and African Union to activate end-to-end vaccine projects based on local and regional need.”

 

Dr. Douglas Shaffer, IVI’s Deputy Director General of Global Affairs and Communications and Acting Africa Regional Office Director, said: “Following collaborative sessions with the Government of Kenya to engineer IVI’s Country and AVEC Africa Project Office, we are pleased to now begin operationalizing this exciting, new project. Together, we will continue building and connecting a project-driven network of partners to power an integrated and sustainable vaccine ecosystem meeting the needs of Kenya, the region, the continent, and beyond.”

 

In February 2024, IVI’s Board of Trustees approved the decision to pursue AVEC Africa and establish a Country and Project Office in Kenya to oversee its implementation. The ratification process completed when Kenya deposited the instrument of accession on May 30, 2024, becoming a State Party of IVI. A flag-raising ceremony was held at IVI’s headquarters in Seoul on June 5, 2024, where H.E. President William Ruto remarked that increased vaccine availability would greatly enhance Kenya’s primary healthcare delivery and support disease prevention. He emphasized that Kenya’s commitment to self-reliance in vaccine production, bolstered by lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, would reduce the country’s reliance on external vaccine suppliers.

 

Kenya has shown a strong commitment to becoming a regional hub for pharmaceuticals and biomanufacturing, in line with President Ruto’s leadership as the African Union champion for local manufacturing. A host country agreement with the Government of Kenya is expected to be signed soon, and recruitment is underway to fill leadership positions for this country office.

 

 

###

 

 

About the Government of Kenya’s efforts to strengthen R&D, innovation, and local vaccine manufacturing

Kenya is firmly committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). One of the primary challenges is ensuring the availability and affordability of essential medicines, vaccines, and health products. Currently, only 15% of essential medicines are produced locally, with a significant reliance on imported medical supplies and diagnostics. To address this, the government is focused on boosting local manufacturing capabilities, aiming to improve commodity security, create jobs, and reduce dependence on imports. These efforts are expected to enhance regulatory control, contribute to better health outcomes, and offer protection against global supply chain disruptions.

In line with these goals, Kenya is making significant strides in strengthening its research and development (R&D) and local vaccine manufacturing capacities. Partnerships between key institutions, such as the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Kenya BioVax Institute (KBI), are central to these efforts. By 2025-2026, Kenya aims to produce vaccines locally, advancing its self-sufficiency in immunization. This move supports Kenya’s alignment with the African Union’s vaccine manufacturing targets. Collaborations with international and regional partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the African Finance Corporation (AFC), are bolstering these initiatives, ensuring timely vaccine availability in health crises and driving economic growth. These efforts are integral to enhancing health security and reducing Kenya’s reliance on external vaccine and medicine suppliers.

 

About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is a non-profit international organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health.

IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines at all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development for infectious diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, such as cholera, typhoid, chikungunya, shigella, salmonella, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, COVID-19, and more. IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine, pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), and developed a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine that also achieved WHO prequalification in early 2024.

IVI is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea with a Europe Regional Office in Sweden, an Africa Regional Office in Rwanda, a Country Office in Austria, and a Country and Project Office in Kenya. IVI additionally co-founded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute in Hong Kong and hosts Collaborating Centers in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. 42 countries and the WHO are members of IVI, and the governments of the Republic of Korea, Sweden, India, Finland, Austria, and Thailand provide state funding.

For more information, please visit https://www.ivi.int.

 

 

CONTACT

 

Ministry of Health, Government of Kenya

Judy Sheri

judy.sheri@health.go.ke

 

IVI

Aerie Em, Global Communications & Advocacy Manager
+82 2 881 1386 | aerie.em@www.ivi.int