MAV+ Rwanda: boosting the production of and access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies in Rwanda

The MAV+ Rwanda project addresses a major challenge: Africa’s extreme dependence on imports of health products. Through simultaneous support for local production, scientific research, and training of excellence, this initiative is laying the foundations of true health sovereignty. 

MAV+, which is supported by the Team Europe approach as part of the Global Gateway strategy, is transforming this need into a lever for industrial and technological development for Rwanda. 

The objective of the MAV+ Rwanda project is to boost the ecosystem that produces and provides access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies. In order to transform the biotechnology sector over the long term, targeted actions are being implemented on three top priorities: training, research, and infrastructure. 

• Talent development: modernisation of curricula and creation of programmes of excellence (masters and doctorate programmes) to train the leaders of the pharmaceutical industry of tomorrow.
• Innovation and research: capacity-building in clinical trials and creation of a national biobank, which will act as a cornerstone of biomedical research in Rwanda.
• State-of-the-art infrastructure: technical upgrading of laboratories and training centres to meet international production requirements.

Ultimately, the project aims to position Rwanda as a regional leader in pharmaceutical production, biomedical innovation, and specialised training, while improving access to essential care and attracting investment in the biotechnology sector.

The MAV+ Rwanda project aims to transform the national health landscape over the long term by achieving three key results:

• Industry-aligned expertise: By reducing the gap between academic training and market needs, the project will help create a generation of professionals ready to lead the country’s biopharmaceutical boom.
• A centre of scientific excellence: Enhancing research and clinical trial capacities will position Rwanda as a privileged destination for innovation and the transfer of cutting-edge technologies.
• An economic catalyst: Ultimately, improving the ecosystem will act as a magnet for international investments, thereby boosting local production to ensure universal access to essential medicines and vaccines.

The strategy for making best use of the MAV+ Rwanda results is based on a three-pronged approach: accountability, visibility, and capitalisation. We are transforming each stage of the project into a learning continuum for the health ecosystem. 

This approach focuses on three major actions:

• Performance monitoring: rigorous management of key indicators to measure the real impact on training and institutional capacities.
• Strategic capitalisation: transforming our actions into structured knowledge (case studies, analyses, feedback).
• Widely sharing best practices: sharing successful experiences stemming from higher education and clinical trials, to inspire other regional initiatives.