AFRICA – The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) has outlined comprehensive strategies to develop and implement the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing plan for Africa (PMPA) with support of relevant partners.

The mandate of AUDA-NEPAD is to strengthen capacity of African Union Member States and regional bodies, advance knowledge-based advisory support as well as undertake the full range of resource mobilization.

The AUDA-NEPAD is also tasked to coordinate and execute priority regional and continental projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated realization of Agenda 2063 while serving as the continent’s technical interface with all Africa’s development stakeholders and development partners.

At the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government in Nouakchott, Mauritania, June 2018, a decision was taken to transform the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency into the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD

Subsequently, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD is working closely with development partners to implement the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing plan for Africa in line with global reforms geared at improving the African Union’s impact and operational efficiency.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing plan for Africa outlines measures for effective industrial coordination, good policies and practices in the manufacturing sector which are critical for Africa’s local pharmaceutical production.

The first consultative workshop on the development of a compendium of good pharmaceutical policies and practices for Africa under the leadership of African Union Development Agency-NEPAD was held in Nairobi County in Kenya from 28th -29th June 2022.

The participants examined current national, regional and continental policies as well as strategies and initiatives aimed at identifying good policies, recognizing gaps and agreeing on a roadmap to create an enabling policy environment for the manufacture of medical products in Africa.

In addition, the attendees sought to strengthen coordination, foster strategic partnership and effective collaboration among all stakeholders involved in promoting the development of the local pharmaceutical production capability in Africa.

The pharmaceutical manufacturing plan that will be launched in coming months aims to facilitate improved access to affordable essential medicines and catalyze local production in Africa through increased political commitments and workable solutions.

The first consultative workshop focused on formulating good pharmaceutical policies and practices for Africa brought together experts in pharmaceuticals from Algeria, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

Other honorable participants present at the consultative workshop included representatives of regional economic communities such as East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Additionally, private sector was represented by senior executives of pharmaceutical manufacturers associations such as the Federation of African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations and Federation of East African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations.

The workshop also saw the participation of West African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations and Southern African Generic Manufacturers Association among other private sector and non-profit organizations involved in promoting Africa’s health systems.

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