WHAT: Launch of a Partnership between African Union, Africa CDC and the
Mastercard Foundation

SPEAKER(s):
· His Excellency Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the African Union
· His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and AU Domestic Health Financing Champion
· His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and AU COVID-19 Champion
· His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission
· Ms Reeta Roy, President & CEO, Mastercard Foundation
· Dr John Nkengasong, Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

MODERATOR(s):
· Mr. Stepples Muchimba, Acting Head of Protocol, AUC
· Wynne Musabayana, Head of Communication, AUC

WHEN: Tuesday, 8 June 2021

TIME: 3.00pm EAT, 8.00am-8.50 ET, 2.00pm-2.50pm CT, 1.00-1.50pm WAT

Join via zoom: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OrMboXbGTFCRWCUrl5cGDw

Live stream: https://youtu.be/5dh_cAQCma8
· On Africa CDC social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Languages: The event will be available in English and French through interpretation.

Overview: This partnership for COVID-19 vaccination in Africa, under the name “Saving Lives and Livelihoods”, will support Member States in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through large-scale vaccination with safe and efficacious vaccines against the disease. This will include the purchase of millions of vaccines and support for the delivery of vaccines across Africa, and strengthen Africa CDC’s capacity to oversee a historic vaccination effort. The partnership will also lay the groundwork to enable the regional manufacturing of vaccines and build the Africa CDC’s preparedness capabilities to respond to potential future health crises.

Media Q&A
The joint announcement of the partnership will be followed by a press briefing.

Journalists may submit questions to Africa CDC during the briefing by sending their full name and the name of their media organization to WhatsApp at +251 94 550 2310.

Journalists may also ask questions live through Zoom.

Media inquiries:

Wynne Musabayana, Head of Communication, Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission | Tel: 0911-630631 | Email: molalett@africa-union.org;

Sergut Dejene, Senior Communications Officer | Office of the Director | Africa CDC
Tel: +251 966699561 | Email: sergutd@africa-union.org

Wariko Waita, Head of Program Communications | Mastercard Foundation I Tel: +254785450464 | Email: wwaita@mastercardfdn.org

About the African Union
The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.

Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en

About Africa CDC
Africa CDC is a specialized technical institution of the African Union which supports Member States in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, prevention and control of diseases.
Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org

About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the world with more than $39 billion in assets. For more than a decade, the Foundation has advanced financial inclusion and education in Africa, improving the lives of more than 45 million people living in poverty. The Foundation was created in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. Since its inception, the Foundation has operated independently of the company. The Foundation’s policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by its Board of Directors and President and CEO. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org