Page 177 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

NMU medical scholars supported through the CSSFF-SAMRC programme.

Finally, the programme includes scholarships for Development Bank (KfW). The SAMRC has been
medical students at Nelson Mandela University to appointed by the DSTI as the Project Executing
complete their medical training. The first cohort of 6 Agent to implement the programme on its behalf.
medical students was funded starting in 2023 and a The programme aims to address the fact that
second cohort of 11 students was awarded from 2024 Africa produces less than 1% of its annual vaccine
and will be supported for the duration of their studies. requirements, which leaves the continent vulnerable,
as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic
With the above-mentioned initiatives, the CSSFF- when its governments struggled to source critical
SAMRC capacity development programme is vaccines to save lives. The pandemic laid bare
growing the next generation of vaccine the urgent need for the continent to accelerate
professionals, researchers, and technical experts, investments in building vaccine development and
building much needed capacity and infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities to ensure a significant
and establishing a network through which vaccine increase in the local manufacturing of the vaccines
R&D and innovation can be nurtured and thrive.
Ultimately, this is aimed at growing the industry, we consume in Africa.
contributing to the economy and ensuring that To date, substantial investments have been made
LMICs, including South Africa, are prepared by the South African Government and other funders
to rapidly respond to the next pandemic. The in research and development infrastructure as
overwhelming majority of recipients of the CSSFF- well as pilot facilities for vaccine development,
SAMRC awards are graduates from HDIs as the testing and production in South Africa which are
programme targets and focuses on realizing ongoing. However, there remain critical gaps and
transformation and building capacity in health, bottlenecks that hamper progress in establishing
science and allied disciplines. the country as a significant vaccine development
and manufacturing hub. It is within this context
Support for Vaccine Research,
that the German Government has committed an
Development, Pilot-Scale Production amount of up to €20 million to fund equipment and
and Regulation in South Africa through infrastructure for vaccine research, development,
the KfW-DSTI Infrastructure Programme pilot-scale production and regulation in South Africa.
The Support of Vaccine Research, Development, The long-term goal of the programme is to create
Pilot-Scale Production and Regulation in South a more resilient vaccine innovation and production
Africa programme is co-funded by the Government landscape with a higher local content which allows
of South Africa through the DSTI and the German South Africa to deal with current and prepare for
Federal Government implemented through KfW future health threats.

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