The Agence nationale de régulation pharmaceutique (ANRP) is hosting a regional capacity-building workshop in Ouagadougou on vaccine production and clinical trial good practice.
The five-day event, running from 9 to 13 November 2026, brings together national regulatory agencies from francophone African countries. Dr Joël Arthur Kiendrébéogo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, opened the ceremony representing the Minister of Health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa organised the workshop through the African Vaccine Regulatory Forum (AVAREF), in collaboration with Faso Food and Drug Administration (Faso FDA). Approximately ten African delegations are attending, alongside international experts.
The workshop addresses Africa’s current position in global clinical research, with the continent accounting for approximately 2% of worldwide clinical trial activity. Sessions will cover optimisation of ethical and regulatory frameworks, assessment of Burkina Faso’s ecosystem, and the inaugural meeting of the AVAREF Francophone Network.
Dr Arsène Ouédraogo, Director General of Faso FDA, said the meeting will strengthen participant capacities and enable experience-sharing between regulators.
Dr Kwassi Nyarko of WHO outlined three focus areas: ethical and regulatory framework optimisation, evaluation of the Burkinabè ecosystem, and launch of the AVAREF Francophone Network. The shared objective is to build robust institutions capable of ensuring scientific integrity, patient safety, and accelerated African autonomy in manufacturing health products.
The workshop aligns with four strategic priorities set by President Ibrahim Traoré: establishment of a pharmaceutical technopole launched in 2024, operationalisation of Faso FDA created in May 2026, training of 1,000 specialists annually over five years, and consolidation of universal health insurance financing.
The ANRP did not state which specific countries are represented, how many participants are attending, what follow-up activities are planned, or whether any binding agreements or memoranda will result from the meeting.
Source: Agence nationale de régulation pharmaceutique (ANRP), 10 November 2026: https://fasofda.bf/fr/appGestion/listeCategoriePublic/0892a454-6471-4a24-9c8a-ecc4c3d9f16b/
