WHAT: ACHIEVE Africa: Launching Africa's Research and Development Engine for Vaccine and Therapeutic Sovereignty

WHEN: Sunday, February 15, 2026

Time: 08:00 - 11:00 AM (EAT)

WHERE: Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WHO: Government of Zambia, African Union Member States: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

Special Guest Institution: African Medicines Agency (AMA)

WHY: This high-level side event aims to officially launch the ACHIEVE Africa initiative and secure top-level political endorsement and commitment from African leaders

Objective of the Side Event:

• Present ACHIEVE Africa as an African-conceived, African-led consortium of experts from 20 countries and 50 institutions
• Demonstrate direct alignment with the Team Europe initiative (TEI) on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (MAV+) aims at boosting local manufacturing, the Africa CDC's and African Union Path to Vision 2030

Expected Outcomes:

• Tangible commitment from African governments to integrate ACHIEVE Africa objectives into national health and science and technology strategies.
• Increased recognition of ACHIEVE Africa as the central R&D platform, attracting further investment and collaboration.
• A clear mandate for the ACHIEVE Africa Consortium and IVI to proceed with implementation, backed by continental leadership.

Media Access:

Accredited Members of Media are Invited for the Coverage of the Event

For media enquiry please contact:

Mr. Noel John | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: Kenyin@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia