Africa’s First End-to-End Multi-Vaccine Plant to be Built in South Africa

A Landmark Financing Partnership

In a major stride toward African health sovereignty, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, the European Commission, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have announced a landmark financing package for Biovac. The partnership will support the construction of Africa’s first end-to-end multi-vaccine manufacturing facility in South Africa.

The project is fueled by a €75 million investment from the EIB and a $20 million senior loan led by the IFC. This funding is a flagship initiative of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, designed to combine healthcare infrastructure with sustainable economic development.

Strategic Production Goals

The new facility, slated for completion by 2028, is designed to be highly versatile. Once operational, it is expected to produce between 30 million and 40 million doses annually.

The production roadmap includes:

• Immediate Priority: Manufacturing oral cholera vaccines to help close approximately 40% of the global supply gap.
• Future Expansion: Scaling production to include vaccines for polio, pneumonia, and meningitis.
• Regional Distribution: Supplying African markets through established procurement channels such as UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Economic and Social Impact

Beyond its medical output, the Biovac facility is a significant driver of regional economic growth and technological advancement:

• Job Creation: The project is expected to create over 340 high-skilled jobs and approximately 7,000 indirect jobs.
• Knowledge Transfer: The initiative emphasizes technology transfer and the training of African scientists and health workers.
• Health Sovereignty: By reducing reliance on imports, the plant strengthens the continent’s long-term resilience against future pandemics and endemic diseases.

Aligning with “Vision 2040”

This investment is a critical component of the African Union’s Vision 2040, which sets an ambitious target of achieving 60% local vaccine production on the continent. By localizing the entire manufacturing process—from drug substance production to final “fill and finish”—South Africa is positioning itself as a central hub for African biotech innovation.

EIB President Nadia Calviño highlighted that this partnership does more than build a factory; it equips African communities to support themselves, ensuring that the next generation is protected from preventable diseases through locally-driven science.