While Africa currently produces only around 1% of the vaccines it consumes, this project aims to sustainably strengthen the continent’s industrial capacity and support regional health sovereignty.
The financing will support the construction and commissioning of a new manufacturing facility for essential vaccines, including polio, meningitis, pneumonia, and cholera, thereby strengthening the continent’s health security and enhancing its capacity to prevent and respond to epidemics. The production of a cholera vaccine will position Biovac as the first end-to- end multi-vaccine African manufacturer on the continent.
Date de distribution : 12/05/2026 à 12:54
These vaccines will primarily be distributed through UNICEF and Gavi channels, for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The French company Sanofi will provide technical support to Biovac and share its industrial expertise in polio vaccine manufacturing.
Through this financing, which may be complemented by technical assistance, Proparco reaffirms its financial support and commitment to strengthening local manufacturing capacity and is delivering on the commitments made by France since 2021 to promote pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa and support the continent’s health sovereignty and vaccine self-sufficiency.
“Proparco is proud, on behalf of France, to support Biovac in its pan-African development. Expanding vaccine production capacity on the continent is essential to improve immunisation and strengthen the resilience of populations, particularly the most vulnerable. The project will also reduce dependence on imports, foster innovation and create skilled jobs. Biovac is well positioned to achieve this ambition for the benefit of millions of Africans,” said Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco.
“We are extremely proud to partner with Proparco in our quest to expand our vaccine manufacturing capability. This unwavering support, particularly on a continent that still produces 1% of its own vaccine is key in ensuring that Biovac contributes in making demonstrable and long lasting change and to ensure self sufficiency in vaccine production in Africa.
The new facility will ensure not only reliable supply of life-saving vaccines for Africa but will also allow additional skills capability, technology transfer and drive vaccine innovation that will benefit generations to come ‘ said Dr Morena Makhoana, CEO of Biovac.
Proparco’s financial contribution to this large-scale project will be supported by the European Union, through the EDFI Transforming Global Value Chains (EDFI TGVC) programme, under EFSD+, the financing instrument of the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative.
Media Contacts
• Proparco: Anne Barthélemy ; barthelemya@proparco.fr ; +33 7 79 88 10 95
Christoph Haushofer; haushoferc@proparco.fr; +33 6 51 23 11 35
Proparco in Africa
Africa is at the heart of Proparco’s strategy. For nearly 50 years, Proparco has been working alongside the African private sector to accelerate sustainable and inclusive development. This commitment is concretely reflected across the continent through a network of six regional offices and five local branches. Between 2022 and 2025, Proparco committed more than €4.6 billion across Africa, representing over €1.1 billion per year during this period.
On the African continent, Proparco finances high-impact, job-creating projects in the following areas: sustainable infrastructure, sustainable industry, agriculture and agribusiness—particularly to strengthen the continent’s food sovereignty, notably through the FARM initiative; support for the local economic fabric, especially entrepreneurs and local SMEs, by strengthening financial institutions through Choose Africa; and the development of high-quality essential goods and services.
Proparco provides financing solutions tailored to business needs, enhanced technical assistance through Propulse, as well as dedicated support for innovation via Digital Africa, its subsidiary focused on early- stage startups.
More information: proparco.fr | LinkedIn: @Proparco
About Biovac
Biovac is a South African biopharmaceutical company established in 2003 in partnership with the South African government to develop local vaccine manufacturing capability. Based in Cape Town, Biovac currently manufactures and supplies much-needed routine paediatric vaccines and has delivered more than 450 million vaccine doses to countries across Southern Africa, including COVID-19 vaccines.
Among other key projects, the company has established drug substance manufacturing capabilities through its Oral Cholera Vaccine development and commercial manufacturing project, in partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). This programme has commenced clinical trials facilitated by the South African Medical Research Council
(SAMRC). In addition to cholera, Biovac is undergoing technology transfers on a polio vaccine with Sanofi, a French multinational company.
Biovac is a key player in efforts to bolster Africa’s health security and vaccine self-sufficiency. For more information, visit www.biovac.co.za
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
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