Deadline: October 10, 2025
The GIZ-EU Joint Action SAVax has launched a competitive call for applications to provide tailored technical assistance to South African private sector entities in the biopharmaceutical sector.
The focus is to support South African private sector in local pharmaceutical and health technologies production through research & development and developing skills (managerial capacities and higher education); address human resource gaps and capacities, using a gender and disability-sensitive approach, for core and auxiliary functions linked to the production of human medicines and vaccines; improve the technical capacity of South African actors to conduct market analyses and design market shaping measures for vaccines, medicines and health technologies produced in South Africa; support South African manufacturers with established production of “ready-for-market” products in preparing for GMP/WHO Pre-Qualification assessments to improve their certification prospects; support South African manufacturers with established production capabilities in meeting essential conditions for technology transfer readiness and support them through the transfer process; provide technical assistance to South African private sector companies for strategic demand intelligence and forecasting of health-related technologies, including vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics, to evaluate demand viability, funding likelihood, and conduct price differential analyses across scenarios; provide technical support to local manufacturers on sustainable business modelling enabling them to enhance their capacity to meet the requirements for innovative financing mechanisms; support the development of innovative vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics and healthcare technologies that address healthcare challenges in South Africa; foster the translation of research findings into tangible products, market access, and solutions that benefit public health.
This call is aimed at private sector entities from pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and biomanufacturing sectors that are registered in South Africa. Eligible applicants must have at least one product or platform at a viable technical stage and demonstrate a commitment to long-term growth, health impact, and local production. While no direct funding will be provided, selected companies will receive specialized training, advisory support, GMP guidance, and human capacity development.
Technical assistance will address areas such as technology platforms and innovation readiness, regulatory and quality systems strengthening, intellectual property and commercial strategy, organisational resilience and investment readiness, as well as human capital and collaboration. These offerings will be tailored to the specific needs of applicants and will help strengthen South Africa’s role in vaccine and medicine production, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare outcomes.
Up to eight applicants will be selected to receive targeted technical assistance, with activities expected to run for 12 to 15 months from June 2026 to September 2027.
For more information, visit GIZ.
