International Vaccine Institute, Kenya sign Host Country Agreement to establish country office

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Government of the Republic of Kenya signed a Host Country Agreement today at State House, Nairobi, establishing the IVI Kenya Country and AVEC Africa Project Office.

The agreement was signed by, Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and Dr. Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI, in the presence of H.E. President Dr. William S. Ruto.

The agreement formalises IVI’s presence in Kenya and reinforces a shared commitment to advancing vaccine research and development, translational and field research, product innovation, and capacity-building through workforce development and technology transfer.

The Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities in Africa (AVEC Africa) project focuses on strengthening the African vaccine ecosystem by linking and enhancing existing institutions and expertise across the vaccine value chain.

Dr. Mudavadi said: “The establishment of IVI’s Country Office in Kenya reflects our shared commitment to strengthening health systems, advancing research and development, and championing local manufacturing for Kenya and across Africa. This partnership supports Kenya’s vision to become a regional hub for biomanufacturing and underscores the importance of strong international collaboration in improving preparedness, resilience, and equitable access critical technologies.”

“The signing of this Host Country Agreement marks an important milestone in IVI’s growing partnership with Kenya and our long-term commitment to advancing vaccine research, development, and delivery capacity across Africa,” said Dr. Kim, Director General of IVI.

He added: “Kenya has demonstrated strong leadership and vision in strengthening regional health security and biomanufacturing capabilities. Through our country office in Nairobi, we look forward to deepening collaboration with national health agencies, research partners, and industry to support African-led innovation and equitable access to vaccines.”

Kenya became a State Party of IVI in May 2024. In addition to this new Country Office, IVI has its headquarters in Seoul, Republic of Korea, an Africa Regional Office in Rwanda, a Europe Regional Office in Sweden, and a Country Office in Austria.

IVI is an independent international organisation originally established at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme in 1997.

Its mission is to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines—empowering vaccine equity, impact, and sustainability globally.

IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines in multiple stages of pre-clinical and clinical development targeting infectious diseases that significantly impact low- and middle-income countries, including cholera, typhoid fever, chikungunya, shigellosis, salmonellosis, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, and group A strep-related diseases, and COVID-19.

IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine and a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine, both pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO).

IVI is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea with a Europe Regional Office in Sweden, an Africa Regional Office in Rwanda, a Country Office in Austria, and a Country and Project Office in Kenya.

IVI with 40 member countries was cofounded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute in Hong Kong and hosts Collaborating Centres in Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Madagascar.