Team Europe in Rwanda has signed four contracts valued at €40 million, marking a significant step in strengthening Rwanda’s pharmaceutical sector and boosting local manufacturing of health products.
This milestone is part of the European Union’s (EU) ongoing commitment to support Rwanda’s health ecosystem, first announced in December 2023 when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Paul Kagame witnessed the signing of the €40 million financial agreement.
The new initiative will support the Rwandan government’s efforts in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D), skills development, supply chain management, and regulatory improvements. Key areas of focus include higher education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and strengthening Rwanda’s ability to locally produce safe and affordable health products.
“This signing marks a momentous occasion for the partnership between Team Europe and Rwanda,” said EU Ambassador to Rwanda, Belen Calvo Uyarra. “Together with France, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium, we will support Rwanda’s vision of becoming a regional hub for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.”
The contracts will be implemented by Expertise France, Sweden, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), in close collaboration with Rwandan counterparts.
The initiative also aligns with the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies in Africa (MAV+), a flagship program under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy aimed at fostering transformative partnerships in Africa.
Minister of State for Health, Hon. Yvan Butera, reiterated Rwanda’s commitment, saying, “The Government of Rwanda remains focused on building a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub to enhance access to medical products across Africa.
He added that the signing ceremony signals that this remains a priority for both Rwanda and the European Union.
The contracts were signed during the second East Africa Pharma and Biotech Conference in Kigali, hosted by the Rwanda Biomedical Center and Africa CDC. The conference is supported by the German Development Cooperation under the MAV+ Team Europe Initiative, further underscoring the collaboration between European and African partners.
The MAV+ initiative, launched in May 2021, seeks to create an enabling environment for local vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing across Africa, addressing global health inequities.
The initiative includes efforts to train a skilled workforce, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and promote technology transfer, contributing to equitable access to quality, affordable healthcare products.
Team Europe is dedicating approximately €2 billion across Africa under this initiative, supporting the continent’s growing capacity to locally manufacture vaccines and essential health products.
Existing projects in Rwanda include a groundbreaking Twinning project at the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (RFDA), which connects RFDA with EU National Regulatory Agencies to provide expert support, training, and collaboration.
