From 25–26 February 2026, leaders from government, academia, industry, and development partners convened in Kigali for the inaugural Regional Capability and Capacity Network (RCCN) – East Africa Conference of Partners Workshop, an initiative led by Africa CDC to strengthen workforce capabilities and expand local vaccine and health product manufacturing across the region.

The workshop marks a significant step in operationalizing the RCCN East Africa Secretariat, hosted by Rwanda through Syllabi under the Ministry of Education. The Secretariat serves five countries—Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia—and focuses on harmonised capacity building, policy coordination, and regional collaboration to advance biomanufacturing and health security 

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere underscored the foundational role of education and skills development in Africa’s manufacturing ambitions:

“At the centre of this transformation is education and skills development. If we are serious about advancing vaccine manufacturing and health security, our academic and training systems must evolve.”

Her remarks echoed the RCCN’s core mandate: aligning curricula with industry and regulatory needs, harmonising competencies across the region, and strengthening coordination among universities, manufacturers, and policymakers 

Building Regional Capability and Self-Reliance

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s heavy reliance on external suppliers for vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Persistent gaps in biomanufacturing capacity, specialised workforce development, regulatory readiness, and regional coordination continue to constrain the continent’s ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies 

In response, the RCCN was established as a continental platform to coordinate institutional collaboration and capacity building. Four regional Secretariats were created, including the East Africa Secretariat hosted in Rwanda 

Through Syllabi, in collaboration with the Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccinology, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management (RCE-VIHSCM), the Secretariat will:

• Align academic programmes with emerging industry and regulatory requirements

• Support curriculum reform and harmonisation across the region

• Convene technical exchanges among universities, regulators, and manufacturers

• Link national initiatives with continental strategies led by Africa CDC and the African Union 
  

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Over the next three years, the RCCN East Africa will prioritise deeper regional collaboration, strengthened institutional sustainability, increased industry engagement, and alignment with continental manufacturing and health security strategies 

The establishment of the Secretariat in Kigali reinforces Rwanda’s growing leadership in education-driven regional transformation. By anchoring workforce development within higher education and technical training systems, Rwanda and its regional partners are laying the foundation for a resilient health ecosystem—one capable of supporting local manufacturing, responding to public health emergencies, and positioning East Africa as a competitive player in global pharmaceutical and biotechnology value chains