Nairobi, Kenya
A new continental initiative aimed at transforming Africa’s pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing capacity was officially launched in Nairobi on Tuesday, as governments and development partners seek to reduce the region’s heavy reliance on imported health products.
The Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030), spearheaded by the World Bank Group and the African Union Commission, seeks to double the production of key health products across the continent by the end of the decade. The programme is expected to play a central role in improving access to affordable medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies, while strengthening health security systems.
Despite accounting for nearly a fifth of the global population, Africa currently imports between 70 and 100 percent of its finished pharmaceutical products and approximately 99 percent of vaccines. Less than one percent of vaccines used on the continent are produced locally, leaving countries exposed to global supply disruptions, export restrictions, and price volatility—challenges starkly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials say AIM2030 aims to address these vulnerabilities by building sustainable local manufacturing capacity and strengthening regional supply chains. The initiative will focus on scaling production in nine countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa.
“Africa’s dependence on imported medical products continues to undermine the resilience of its health systems,” the initiative’s backers noted at the launch. “Strengthening local manufacturing is essential to ensure reliable access to medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines, particularly during global emergencies.”
Beyond improving health outcomes, the initiative is also positioned as an economic development driver. By expanding domestic production, AIM2030 is expected to create skilled jobs, deepen industrial capacity, and attract private investment into Africa’s health sector value chains.
