IFC and Partners Support Institut Pasteur de Dakar to Boost Vaccine Manufacturing for Africa

Dakar, Senegal, December 13, 2024 - To dramatically boost Africa's vaccine manufacturing capacity, IFC today announced a financing package for vaccine maker Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) that will support the construction of a state-of-the-art, multi-vaccine production facility in Senegal.

The planned facility, known as the Manufacturing in Africa for Disease Immunization and Building Autonomy (Madiba) project, will be located in Diamniadio, near Dakar. Once fully operational, it will have the capacity to produce up to 300 million vaccine doses annually, supplying African markets with essential vaccines.

As the mobilization lead for the project, IFC has arranged a $45 million package, which includes a $15 million loan from IFC and $30 million raised from partner development finance institutions the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has an ambitious objective to have 60 percent of routine vaccines used on the continent produced locally by 2040. Africa currently relies heavily on other countries to fulfill its routine vaccine needs, importing 99 percent of vaccines.

The facility will boost vaccine access, create high-value jobs, strengthen healthcare systems, and enhance Africa's ability to respond to infectious diseases and childhood illnesses.

"This partnership with Institut Pasteur de Dakar is a testament to IFC's dedication to strengthening Africa's healthcare infrastructure," said Makhtar Diop, IFC Managing Director. "By facilitating local vaccine production, we are helping to build a more resilient healthcare system that can better respond to existing and future challenges."

Dr. Amadou Sall, Director General of IPD, emphasized, "This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration to transform Africa's health systems. With this funding, we are one step closer to achieving vaccine sovereignty and ensuring that no African is left behind in accessing life-saving solutions."

"DFC is proud to have supported IPD through a $15 million loan and a previous $3 million technical assistance grant. These contributions have facilitated the construction of the MADIBA facility and the expansion of flexible vaccine manufacturing capabilities. This facility will significantly enhance IPD's capacity to produce a variety of vaccines, extending beyond their traditional focus on the yellow fever vaccine. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to advancing global health and supporting innovative healthcare solutions. Together, we are paving the way for a healthier future, building on a century-long legacy of scientific excellence and public health dedication, said DCEO Nisha Biswal."

"The African Development Bank is proud to support this critical initiative, which aligns with our 2030 Vision and Action plan for Africa's pharmaceutical industry. This project underscores our commitment to boosting local production, enhancing health security, mobilizing global partnerships, and providing long-term finance to diversify vaccine manufacturing in Africa and technologies, said Ousmane Fall, Director Non-Sovereign Operations and acting Director Industry and Trade Development."

The project was also supported at its early-stage development by the Government of Japan through the Comprehensive Japan Trust Fund (CJTF) as part of its support for IFC's Global Health Platform (GHP) that was created specifically to support vaccines and related initiatives.

The project has also been facilitated by early-stage support from IFC, which helped raise $14 million in grant funding to kick-start the project in 2021, coordinated with the other development finance institutions, donors, and partners. IFC also supported the development of the project's commercial and financing structure.

IFC's support to IPD is part of a broader initiative to support the development of capacity to produce vaccines and other pharmaceuticals in Africa, which so far resulted in investments in Aspen Pharmacare and BioVac - Pfizer.

This achievement showcases the collaborative efforts within the World Bank Group. In addition to IFC's financing package, the World Bank supported the Senegalese Pharma Regulator (ARP) to achieve Maturity Level 3 accreditation from the World Health Organization. This accreditation recognizes a stable regulatory system, essential for creating an investment-friendly environment conducive to quality manufacturing. The World Bank provided advisory support to ARP and the Ministry of Health and financed ARP's roadmap to reach this milestone.

Complementing these efforts, the investment by IFC and mobilized lenders is supported by a first loss guarantee from the International Development Association's Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility, which provides risk mitigation for transformative projects in IDA countries where financing options can be challenging to secure.