International Vaccine Institute to set up office in Nairobi

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) will establish an office in Nairobi, seeking to use the Kenyan capital as a hub for continental development programme.

The deal was announced this week on the sidelines of the France-Africa summit in Nairobi, after the Institute signed an agreement with the Kenyan government. It was formalised by IVI Director General Jérôme H. Kim and Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at State House.

According to a dispatch, the deal supports Kenya’s ambition to become a regional biomanufacturing hub.

It positions Kenya as the base for IVI’s Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities in Africa (AVEC Africa) programme, which is designed to build a fully integrated vaccine ecosystem spanning research, clinical trials, manufacturing, regulation and delivery.

Increase capacity in Africa

The aim is to connect and strengthen the currently fragmented capacities across the continent to create a more self-sustaining system.

“The establishment of IVI’s Country Office in Kenya reflects our shared commitment to strengthening health systems, advancing research and development, and championing local manufacturing for Kenya and across Africa.

“This partnership supports Kenya’s vision to become a regional hub for biomanufacturing and highlights the importance of strong international collaboration in improving preparedness, resilience and equitable access to critical technologies,” said Mudavadi.

Officials in Nairobi argue the Covid-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s vulnerability to global supply shocks, with countries waiting longer, paying more and receiving fewer vaccines. Of the 1.4 billion doses administered across the continent, most came through COVAX or bilateral donations rather than domestic production, a dependency that proved costly.

But IVI's presence could also help with responses to local outbreaks by preparing vaccines for diseases common in Africa. The continent accounts for roughly a quarter of the global disease burden, but it produces less than one percent of the vaccines it consumes. The continent's limited manufacturing capacity, which is concentrated in a few countries, leaves it reliant on external supply chains and exposed during periods of high global demand.

This has intensified calls for health sovereignty, with Kenya positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to build regional capacity.

Cholera vaccine

Founded in 1997 as part of a United Nations Development Programme initiative, the Seoul-based IVI has developed a low-cost oral cholera vaccine and a next-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine.

Both vaccines have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Its pipeline focuses on diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, including typhoid, chikungunya, hepatitis E and HPV.

“The signing of this Host Country Agreement marks an important milestone in IVI’s growing partnership with Kenya and our long-term commitment to advancing vaccine research, development and delivery capacity across Africa. Kenya has demonstrated strong leadership and vision in strengthening regional health security and biomanufacturing capabilities. Through our country office in Nairobi, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with national health agencies, research partners and industry to support African-led innovation and equitable access to vaccines,” said Dr Kim.

Beyond research, the Nairobi office will support technology transfer and workforce development, which are critical to building a durable vaccine industry.

Kenya became an IVI state party in May 2024, and IVI already has a regional office in Rwanda. This creates two East African anchors within a growing biomedical corridor. Rwanda’s investments in health systems and innovations, such as drone-based vaccine delivery, complement Kenya’s strengths in pharmaceutical manufacturing, clinical research and connectivity.

The African Union's goal is for Africa to produce 60 percent of its own vaccines by 2040, which will require sustained investment, robust institutions, and genuine technology transfer.

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