This follows the approval by the IVI’s Board of Trustees in February.
The ratification process was completed when Kenya deposited the instrument of accession on May 30, 2024.
Health CS Deborah Barasa and IVI Director General Jerome Kim after signing the MoU at Afya House on November 26, 2024/Handout
The government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to establish
and operationalise IVI’s country and AVEC Africa project office in Kenya.
The AVEC Africa project focuses on accelerating vaccine
research and development, and manufacturing across the continent.
This is done by linking and enhancing existing African
institutions and expertise across the vaccine value chain.
This follows the approval by the IVI’s Board of Trustees in
February to establish the Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities in Africa
(AVEC Africa) project office in Kenya to oversee its implementation.
The ratification process was 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, by President William Ruto.
Health CS Deborah Barasa and IVI Director General Jerome Kim at Afya House on November 26, 2024/Handout
The AVEC Africa office will bolster IVI’s strategic
partnerships with Kenyan public health organisations, 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.
Speaking during the signing of the MoU, Health CS Deborah
Barasa described it as a significant milestone in Kenya’s commitment to
advancing public health and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
She said the collaboration with the IVI and the establishment
of the AVEC Africa Project office in Kenya is a bold step towards strengthening
Kenya’s 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,” Barasa said.
“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,” the CS said.
Health CS Deborah Barasa and IVI Director General Jerome Kim during the signing of the MoU at Afya House on November 26, 2024/Handout
The signing of the 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.
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.
Meeting going on ahead of the signing of the MoU between Kenya and IVI at Afya House on November 26, 2024/Handout
“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,” IVI Director General Jerome Kim said.
“We are pleased to now begin operationalising 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,” Douglas Shaffer said.
Shaffer is IVI’s Deputy Director General of Global Affairs
and Communications and acting Africa Regional Office Director.
Ruto during the flag hoisting emphasised 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.
The IVI is a non-profit international organisation
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.
Health CS Deborah Barasa at Afya House on November 26, 2024/Handout
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.
They include cholera, typhoid, chikungunya, shigella,
salmonella, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, and Covid-19.
IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera
vaccine, pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation (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.
Health CS Deborah Barasa and other officials pose for a photo during the MoU signing at Afya House on November 26, 2024/Handout
IVI additionally co-founded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute in Hong Kong and hosts Collaborating Centers in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.Forty-two 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.
