EU-Twinning project Kicks off to strengthen Rwanda FDA in its regulatory functions.

On 16th May 2023, the European Union funded twinning project will kick off in an event that will mark the official launch of the project.

The EU-Twinning project aims to strengthen the Rwanda FDA in its regulatory functions related to medicinal products including vaccines therefore to promote drugs and food safety in Rwanda.

The project is funded by the European Union Delegation and is implemented by Expertise France, a French technical cooperation Agency with the help of different health agencies of the European partner countries of the twinning.

The official launch of the project brought together key stakeholders in the health sector, including government officials, health industry representatives, civil society organizations, and development partners.

The EU-Twinning project will support the Rwanda FDA in strengthening its regulatory framework, improving its laboratory services, enhancing its capacity for risk assessment, and promoting the use of international standards and best practices.

The European Union delegation commended the initiative that will enable Rwanda FDA to strengthen its regulatory framework and improve food safety in Rwanda, which is essential for protecting public health and promoting economic growth.

EU Ambassador to Rwanda, Belén Calvo Uyarra said that there is an investment commitment considering a lot of future opportunities for the EU partners to invest more than the initial €2 Million investment, especially looking at the vaccine ecosystem in Rwanda where BioNTech is already investing.

The twinning project involves several vaccines and medicines regulatory agencies from EU Member States such as the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), Paul-Ehrlich-Institut – German Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Sciensano of Belgium and the State Medicines Control Agency of Lithuania.

It aims to support the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority to improve the enabling environment for regulation of medicinal products and vaccines in the country.

The project is to be implemented over a period of two years, with a total budget of 2 million Euros. It is expected that about 200 experts will be able to support the Rwanda FDA through field visits during which they will share their expertise with designated Rwanda FDA Staff.

Rwandan Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Butera Yvan said that; “This project will be ongoing and it supports Rwanda’s bid to produce vaccines which are in the pipeline as we plan to start manufacturing vaccines soon.”

Butera added that the project is vital as Rwanda FDA needs support in the medicine regulatory framework and upholding international vaccine production standards.

The project team consists of experts from health agencies from the European member states which are part of the twinning who will work together with Rwanda FDA Staff to achieve the project objectives.