At the heart of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, a $45 million investment was recently announced to support vaccine production in Senegal. This collaboration between the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) aims to finance VaxSen, the vaccine production and distribution arm of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar.
The agreement signing ceremony, held on December 13 in the presence of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, highlights Senegal’s leading role in advancing public health goals across the continent. This investment will strengthen local vaccine production, consolidate supply chains, and establish a robust vaccine distribution network.
This initiative is perfectly in line with the African Union’s Vision 2040, which aims for Africa to produce 60% of its vaccine needs locally. By supporting vaccine production in Senegal, the partners involved are not only helping to strengthen the continent’s response capacity to health crises, but also to stimulate the region’s economic and social development.
By investing in VaxSen, the various financial institutions are demonstrating their commitment to public health and health security in Africa. This strategic partnership paves the way for enhanced collaboration between local and international actors to promote the continent’s self-sufficiency in health.
Thus, the $45 million investment in vaccine production in Senegal marks an important step in the fight against infectious diseases in Africa, and demonstrates the continent’s ability to address public health challenges with determination and solidarity.