Localizing Medical Manufacturing in Africa and the SDG–Academia Argument: Insights from Mugwagwa, Mkwashi, Mackintosh, and Banda

Authors: Julius Mugwagwa, University College London; Maureen Mackintosh, Open University; Geoffrey Banda, University of Edinburgh; Andrew Mkwashi, Newcastle University  

Research on the localization of medical manufacturing in Africa offers an insightful lens through which to[JL1] consider the argument about academia’s evolving role in the Sustainable Development Goal era. Along with others, my colleagues Maureen Mackintosh, Geoffrey Banda, Andrew Mkwashi, and I highlight how the process of localizing pharmaceutical production is not simply a technical or economic challenge, but a deeply normative and political one. It requires the adaptation and negotiation of global norms within African contexts. This dynamic directly engages the theoretical and practical capacities of global and African universities and scholars.

We emphasize that the push for local pharmaceutical production in Africa, particularly within the East African Community (EAC), reflects a complex process of “norm localization.” Here, policy actors blend global imperatives for access to medicines with industrial policy goals, creating regionally distinctive strategies.^[1] This process is not linear or uncontested; it involves tensions, unintended consequences, and the need for ongoing negotiation between competing priorities.

As academia, our role, therefore, is not diminished by the SDGs’ prescriptive nature. Instead, universities and scholars are essential in critically analyzing, contextualizing, and shaping these localization processes. We have been intentional in providing and critically examining theoretical frameworks to understand how global health and industrial norms are adapted and generating empirical evidence on these adaptations’ outcomes and challenges. 

The localization of medical manufacturing in Africa demonstrates the need for academia to move beyond abstract theorizing to active engagement with policy and practice. For example, the development of local pharmaceutical industries in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe has been shaped by academic research, government–university partnerships, and the training of skilled professionals.^[2] Universities contribute by: conducting research on the effectiveness and sustainability of local manufacturing strategies; advising governments on regulatory frameworks, quality assurance, and industrial policy coherence; and training the next generation of scientists, engineers, and policy analysts needed for a robust pharmaceutical sector.

Addressing SDG Gaps and Advancing Health Security

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s reliance on imported medical supplies, underscoring the urgent need of local manufacturing for health security and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).^[3] Our work shows that local production is not just about economic development but also about building resilient health systems and ensuring equitable access to medicines.^[4] Academia is central to this agenda, providing the research, innovation, and advocacy needed to align industrial development with public health goals.

Our research also highlights the importance of regional approaches — such as harmonizing regulatory standards and creating regional pharmaceutical hubs — to overcome the limitations of small national markets and fragmented regulatory environments. Academic institutions play a key role in supporting these regional initiatives through policy analysis, technical assistance, and cross-border research collaborations.

Our insights reinforce the argument that the SDGs do not sideline academia. Instead, they demand a more engaged, context-sensitive, and interdisciplinary academic role — one that is deeply involved in the localization of global norms, the co-production of knowledge, and the practical challenges of sustainable development. In the case of medical manufacturing in Africa, universities and scholars are not only theorists but also architects and implementers of transformative change, ensuring that SDG ambitions are realized in ways that are both globally informed and locally grounded.

“Our insights reinforce the argument that the SDGs do not sideline academia. Instead, they demand a more engaged, context-sensitive, and interdisciplinary academic role — one that is deeply involved in the localization of global norms, the co-production of knowledge, and the practical challenges of sustainable development. In the case of medical manufacturing in Africa, universities and scholars are not only theorists but also architects and implementers of transformative change, ensuring that SDG ambitions are realized in ways that are both globally informed and locally grounded.” – Julius Mugwagwa, University College London; Maureen Mackintosh, Open University; Geoffrey Banda, University of Edinburgh; Andrew Mkwashi, Newcastle University 

References

^[1] Peg Murray-Evans and Peter O’Reilly,  “Complex Norm Localization: From Price Competitiveness to Local Production in East African Community Pharmaceutical Policy,” European Journal of International Relations 28, no. 4 (2022): 885–909. 

^[2] Jicui Dong and  Zafar Mirza, “Supporting the Production of Pharmaceuticals in Africa,” Bulletin of the World Health Organization 94 (2015): 71–72; Giuliano Russo and Geoffrey Banda, “Re-Thinking Pharmaceutical Production in Africa; Insights from the Analysis of the Local Manufacturing Dynamics in Mozambique and Zimbabwe,” Studies in Comparative International Development 50 (2015): 258–81.

^[3] Maureen Mackintosh, Julius Mugwagwa, Geoffrey Banda, and Jires Tunguhole, “Local Production of Pharmaceuticals and Health System Strengthening in Africa: An Evidence Brief,” German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) (2017) https://health.bmz.de/wp-content/uploads/EB_Pharma.pdf; Abdulaziz Mohammed, Hanna Idris-Dantata, Tochi Okwor, et al. “Supporting the Manufacturing of Medical Supplies in Africa: Collaboration Between Africa CDC, Partners, and Member States,” Global Health: Science and Practice, 11, no. 5 (2023). https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-23-00121; Silvia Ussai, Caterina Chillotti, Erminia Stochino, et al., “Building the Momentum for a Stronger Pharmaceutical System in Africa,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 6 (2022). 

^[4] Mackintosh et al., “Local Production of Pharmaceuticals.”

About the Faculty Mentor Paper Series

This paper is part of the Reach Alliance faculty reflection series, Reimagining the Future of Sustainable Development, in response to Mariana Prado’s Sustainable Development Goals:The End of Theory? Featuring contributions from leading scholars across the Reach Alliance global academic consortium, the series opens a timely dialogue on the evolving role of universities in shaping the future of sustainable development theory and practice. Developed as part of Reach’s commitment to advancing research-to-impact and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, these reflections aim to engage higher education professionals in shaping the future of the Sustainable Development Goals.