From 2–4 March 2026, policy healthcare experts convened at the University of Rwanda Headquarters in Kigali for a three-day consultative meeting to provide input into the Mid-Term Review of the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization, and Health Supply Chain Management (EAC RCE-VIHSCM) Strategic Plan (2020–2029). The meeting reaffirmed the continued relevance of the Centre’s Vision and Mission while assessing progress and identifying emerging priorities to guide its next phase of impact across the East African Community.

Opening the meeting, Prof. Abraham H. Mitike, Principal of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Rwanda, highlighted the Centre’s evolution and emphasized that “the current mid-term review is necessary for the alignment of our strategic planning with global trends and the post-pandemic need for resilient supply chains.”

Established following directives from the EAC Council of Ministers and officially launched at the University of Rwanda in 2016, the Centre has grown into a multidisciplinary hub offering specialized Master’s programs in Health Supply Chain Management, Vaccinology, Regulatory Affairs, and Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance. To date, 174 graduates have completed programs, with 315 students currently enrolled under scholarship and private sponsorship. The Centre’s mandate focuses on strengthening health supply chain leadership, professionalizing health supply chain cadres, and serving as a regional hub for innovation.
Mr. Stephen Macharia, Director of Planning at Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Chair of the meeting, commended the Centre’s achievements and called for deeper regional integration, enhanced advocacy, and sustainable financing through pooled procurement and local vaccine manufacturing.
The workshop was also joined by Hon. Francine Rutazana, Rwandan legislator at the East African Legislative Assembly, who emphasized the importance of aligning the Centre’s work with regional policy, particularly the East African Community Medical Products Bill, targeted for passage in June 2026.
The meeting reviewed the Strategic Plan’s Mission, Vision, objectives, interventions, core activities, and Key Performance Indicators, identifying strengths, challenges, and strategic refinements. Discussions highlighted the need to reduce donor dependency, leverage the alumni network, and strengthen engagement with Partner States for long-term sustainability. Participants recommended retaining the current Vision and Mission, revising the draft Strategic Plan to incorporate stakeholder input, and developing a regional financial framework to secure the Centre’s sustainability.
Insights from the consultative meeting will inform the revised Mid-Term Review report and guide the Centre’s next phase of impact. The EAC RCE-VIHSCM appreciates the continued engagement of policy healthcare experts and stakeholders and looks forward to ongoing collaboration in strengthening vaccines, immunization, and health supply chains across the region.