African leaders pledge 60% local production of health products by 2040
By Faith Lagat, February 15, 2026In a landmark declaration described as a historic moment for Africa’s health sovereignty, African leaders have committed to producing at least 60 per cent of the continent’s health products locally by 2040 and to fully operationalising the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM).
The pledge, announced on February 14, 2026, by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), signals a decisive shift from ambition to concrete action in strengthening Africa’s self-reliance in health security.
The commitment sets the stage for an Extraordinary Summit on Local Manufacturing scheduled to take place in Nairobi later in 2026.
The high-level meeting will be chaired by President William Ruto, who serves as the African Union Champion on Local Manufacturing. This summit is expected to serve as the launchpad for translating the newly announced targets into actionable policies and frameworks.
“Express strong support for the convening of an Extraordinary Summit on African Health Products Manufacturing in Nairobi, Kenya, in Q2 2026, chaired by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, AU Champion on Local Manufacturing, and co-hosted by the Africa CDC, to accelerate implementation, endorse concrete commitments, and demonstrate sustained political leadership,” the CDC’s statement read in part.
By prioritising local production of vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other essential health products, African nations aim to reduce dependency on external suppliers and build resilience against future health crises.
African pooled procurement mechanism at the centre
The full operationalisation of the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) is a central pillar of the strategy.
The mechanism is designed to aggregate demand across the continent, negotiate better prices, and stimulate investment in local manufacturing capacity.
The leaders have formally pledged to make local manufacturing of health products a continental priority, reinforcing health security and sovereignty across Africa.
In their declaration, they emphasised the full operationalisation of the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) as a strategic “Buy African” tool, aimed at aggregating demand, shaping markets, and establishing long-term offtake arrangements.
The initiative is designed to increase access to quality-assured health products while promoting predictable and sustainable markets for African manufacturers. Leaders also highlighted the importance of mobilising sustainable financing, including the creation of an APPM capital fund to support local producers.
The commitment further focuses on enhancing skills development, fostering innovation, and advancing technology transfer through partnerships and the operationalisation of the Africa CDC Regional Capacity and Capability Networks.