Institut Pasteur de Dakar and Mastercard Foundation Announce Unprecedented Partnership to Expand Workforce for Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa

The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) and the Mastercard Foundation have announced a historic $45 million partnership named MADIBA (Manufacturing in Africa for Disease Immunization and Building Autonomy), a significant step towards achieving vaccine manufacturing autonomy in Africa.

The multi-year project, aimed at developing and building a world-class workforce to support vaccine manufacturing, will establish a Centre of Training Excellence to equip talented young people, particularly young women, with specialized skills in vaccine research, manufacturing, production, and distribution.Based in Senegal, MADIBA aligns with the “Plan Sénégal Émergent” (Emerging Senegal Plan) to manufacture half of the country’s pharmaceutical products by 2035 as well as the African Union’s ambitious target to fulfill 60 percent of the continent’s vaccine needs by 2040.

As a blueprint for future vaccine manufacturing facilities across Africa, MADIBA marks a crucial first step towards vaccine self-sufficiency in Africa.

In February 2023, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Regional Capability and Capacity Centre Network (RCCCN),focusing on talent development for manufacturing and research, and selected IPD as its inauguralcentre.“Between 9,000 and 14,000 full-time employees will be needed across vaccine manufacturing and research roles across Africa by 2040.

Graduates of the MADIBA training program will help drive the success of other manufacturing facilities, contributing to a multiplier effect and transformation of vaccine manufacturing capabilities on the continent.“This partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and IPD will enhance human capital development for biomanufacturing in Africa.

That is, to keep everyone safe by rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations while ensuring Africa’s long-term health security by building vaccine manufacturing expertise and workforce on the continent.

In the process, our collaboration will also benefit the livelihoods of young people in Africa.” said Reeta Roy, President, and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation.The partnership between the IPD and the Mastercard Foundation will accelerate the development of a formally trained workforce in Africa to support vaccine manufacturing projects on the continent.