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African SIDS Pooled Procurement Initiative Honored with 2025 SIDS Partnership Award
Victoria, Seychelles – The African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Pooled Procurement Initiative has been recognized with the prestigious 2025 SIDS Partnership Award in the economic category. The accolade was presented on 12 December at the Global Multi-Stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This award celebrates a groundbreaking regional collaboration among African SIDS-including Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles-that has successfully enhanced access to affordable, quality-assured medicines by leveraging collective bargaining power and ensuring consistent supply chains.
Origins and Political Commitment: The Seychelles Declaration
The initiative traces its roots back to a 2017 summit of health ministers from African SIDS convened in Seychelles. During this meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region introduced the pooled procurement model as a strategic response to challenges such as small market sizes, inflated medicine prices, and limited negotiation leverage faced by these island nations. The gathering culminated in the Seychelles Declaration, a unified pledge by participating countries to establish a shared procurement system for essential medicines. This political consensus, formalized through a regional agreement, laid the groundwork for a collaborative platform aimed at reducing pharmaceutical costs, stabilizing supply chains, and bolstering health system resilience across the region.
Leadership and Milestones: Seychelles’ Pivotal Role
Since its inception, Seychelles has played a central leadership role in the initiative. Initially, the country supported the technical development necessary to operationalize the pooled procurement mechanism. In 2024, Seychelles hosted the African SIDS ministerial meeting that finalized long-term supplier contracts and endorsed the transfer of the initiative’s secretariat to Mauritius, marking a significant step toward institutional sustainability.
That same year, Seychelles received its inaugural pharmaceutical shipment through the pooled procurement system-a historic achievement for African SIDS. The country anticipates achieving cost reductions of at least 50% over the next five years across 67 essential medicine formulations, based on price comparisons with data from 2021-2022. The establishment of long-term framework agreements with two competitively selected suppliers has enhanced supply security and minimized the risk of stock shortages. Furthermore, Seychelles continues to provide technical guidance and advocacy, ensuring smooth secretariat operations and encouraging wider regional participation.
WHO’s Integral Support and Expansion of Membership
Throughout the initiative’s development, WHO has been instrumental by offering continuous technical and financial assistance. Acting as the interim secretariat, WHO coordinated procurement planning, facilitated training programs, and engaged stakeholders to ensure effective implementation. The organization also played a key role in expanding the initiative’s membership by integrating Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau alongside the original six African SIDS members.
Collective Impact on Medicine Access and Health Outcomes
This collaborative approach has empowered countries with traditionally limited market influence to negotiate more favorable prices and improve the availability of vital medicines. This is particularly significant for managing noncommunicable diseases, which represent a growing health burden in the region. For instance, cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Seychelles and other African SIDS, underscoring the importance of reliable access to affordable treatments.
Voices from the Field: Commitment to Regional Solidarity
Dr. Rex Mpazanje, WHO Representative for Seychelles, remarked, “This award symbolizes the unwavering resolve of African SIDS to convert persistent challenges into shared opportunities. Through pooled procurement, nations like Seychelles are not only broadening access to affordable, quality-assured medicines but also exemplifying the strength of regional unity in advancing health equity for all.”
Future Directions: Scaling Up and Sustaining Success
Looking forward, Seychelles and its regional partners are preparing for the upcoming tender cycle, with plans to expand the portfolio of medicines and diversify supplier options. Lessons learned from the pilot phase will inform strategies to enhance operational efficiency and maximize value for money. Maintaining regular procurement cycles and deepening regional cooperation will be critical priorities ahead of the Health Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for March 2026 in São Tomé and Príncipe. With Mauritius set to host the permanent secretariat and Seychelles continuing to provide technical and advocacy leadership, the initiative is well-positioned to drive sustained improvements in access to essential medicines across African SIDS.
