Gavi to Begin First Payouts from $1.2 Billion African Vaccine Program

The global vaccine alliance Gavi will make its first cash disbursements to an African manufacturer in the second half of 2026 under a $1.2 billion program. The payments are part of the ten-year African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator and move the effort from building facilities to securing long-term demand.

CDC set a target of producing 60 percent of required vaccines on the continent by 2040. The goal gained urgency after African countries faced limited access to COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. Recent reductions in Western donor funding have prompted health officials to emphasize local production as a route to greater self-reliance.

Hall, principal adviser to the director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said manufacturing of drug substances on the continent remains a high priority. The agency seeks technology transfer agreements that allow local firms to produce active ingredients rather than only performing fill-and-finish operations.

Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, who leads Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, said an enabling environment of procurement systems, workforce training, and regulatory capacity is required. Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, director general of the African Medicines Agency, said a weak regulator renders products commercially unviable.

Gavi announced last month it is seeking an additional $189 million to support the broader manufacturing ecosystem.