Vision:
" Creating a sustainable platform for R&D innovation in
Africa to address Africa’s own health needs"
The African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) was
launched in Abuja in 2008. Its goal is to promote and sustain
African-led product R&D innovation through the discovery,
development and delivery of affordable new tools, including those
based on traditional medicines. ANDI will also support capacity and
infrastructural development. A task force was established to develop
the strategic and business plan for ANDI through a broad consultative
process. This plan is seen as an important contribution towards the
implementation of the Global Strategy on Public Health, Innovation and
Intellectual Property (GSPOA). ANDI is a coordinated and
results-driven effort that builds on existing activities in Africa.
With strong elements of public-private partnerships, it generates
and manages intellectual property and explores innovative mechanisms
to encourage and reward local innovation. The new group will
identify, manage and grant funding to support network activities,
while proactively establishing sustainable funding mechanisms for
its operations.
The ANDI Task Force
A major outcome of the 1st ANDI Stakeholders Meeting (Abuja, October
2008), was the request to establish an ANDI Task Force (TF) that
would assist in developing the ANDI strategy and its implementation
plan on behalf of the stakeholders.
With the help of TDR, the Special Programme for Research and
Training in Tropical Diseases, the TF was promptly constituted
with clear terms of reference to develop the ANDI strategy and
business plan.
Composition of the ANDI Task Force
1. Dr Tom Mboya-Okeyo (Kenyan Ambassador to UN
Geneva) - Chair of the Task Force
2. Dr Alex Ochem (ICGEB - South Africa), Secretary
of the Task Force
3. Dr Uford Inyang, National Institute for
Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Nigeria
4. Dr Anthony Mbewu, Medical Research Council of
South Africa
5. Dr Sanaa Botros, Theodor Bilharz Research
Institute, Cairo, Egypt
6. Dr Anastasia Guantai, University of Nairobi, Kenya
7. Dr Tshinko Ilunga, African Development Bank, Tunisia
8. Dr Peter Atadja, Novartis, USA (representing
Africans in Diaspora)
9. Representative of the EU
WHO/TDR Secretariat
a. Dr Rob Ridley, TDR Director
b. Dr Solomon Nwaka, Leader Discovery and
Innovation, TDR
Following several meetings of the TF and with the support of McKinsey
& Co, the Strategic Business Plan was launched in October 2009
at the 2nd ANDI Stakeholders Meeting in Cape Town and was
unanimously endorsed (through a resolution).
