Core area “Health, social protection and population dynamics” Developing local markets for pharmaceutical products

    Africa's dependence on vaccine and drug imports from abroad was thrown into sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to improve the supply of pharmaceutical products, Africa needs production facilities of its own. Germany has been supporting the Senegalese government since 2021 in its efforts to comprehensively develop the country's pharmaceutical sector.

    Production of antigen tests at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal

    Production of antigen tests at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal

    Senegal's goal is to meet about one third of local demand for pharmaceuticals from local production by 2030 and to raise this share to half by 2035. The aim is to set up a value chain for the production and regional marketing of pharmaceutical products and vaccines in cooperation with the private sector. Support is being provided by, for instance, to the Institut Pasteur of Dakar Foundation, which is already successfully producing yellow fever vaccines and is now preparing to produce other vaccines as well.

    On behalf of the German Development Ministry, GIZ is assisting the Senegalese ministry of health in providing enough funding and human resources for the implementation of necessary reforms. Germany is also supporting the establishment of a pharmaceutical regulatory authority that is independent and meets international standards.

    In order to underline the importance of this matter, it was agreed at the government negotiations in October 2022 that health would be included as a fourth core area of German-Senegalese development cooperation.


    As at: 28/05/2024