South Korea-based International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and the Ministry of Health of Rwanda have announced that IVI will open its Africa Regional Office in Kigali this year. The IVI Board of Trustees (BOT) confirmed Rwanda as the location for IVI’s Africa Regional Office at a meeting in February, following a detailed evaluation of proposals from five countries to host the regional office.

As the administrative focal point in the region, the office will represent IVI in Africa, expanding its member base and engagement. As an implementing partner in the regional vaccine ecosystem, the office will particularly emphasise clinical trial training capacity while pursuing and facilitating joint grant applications with local partners to invigorate vaccine research, development, innovation, and collaboration in Rwanda and beyond.

Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, said, “This new office will play a pivotal role in providing on-the-ground support and leadership for IVI’s work in Africa, increasing IVI engagement and coordination with African stakeholders, and establishing stronger partnerships around training for vaccine R&D, manufacturing, and policy. We look forward to joining the growing ecosystem of vaccine R&D partners on the continent and continuing our work with local and regional collaborators to support sustainable vaccine manufacturing."

Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda Minister of Health, said, "Rwanda is taking a leap in bridging the vaccine equity gap on the African continent by venturing into local production of vaccines, therapeutics and other life-saving medical products."

Image caption- (From left to right) Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, Minister of Health of Rwanda; Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI; and Dr Yvan Butera, Minister of State, Ministry of Health of Rwanda