Dr Moredreck Chibi

• Currently leading the development of a strategy for harnessing health innovations in WHO/Europe.
• Establish and coordinate a network of Innovation Hubs and Centers to collaborate with WHO/Europe on public health initiatives
• Engage with countries to understand their public health innovation ecosystems and identify areas for WHO support
• Organize networking events to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem
• Constitute and convene a Technical Advisory Group to advise on strategic innovation initiatives

Key achievements

• Lead the negotiation with Novo Nordisk Foundation for a 10million grant to support establishment of the first ever Regional Public Health Innovation Coordination Hub in WHO European region
• Leading the development of a strategy for harnessing innovation for public health in the WHO European Region for 2025-2030 set to be adopted by all 53 Member states at the Regional committee in October 2025
• Built the first regional network on Building an Innovation Ecosystem in WHO Europe by establishing a network of over 100 Innovation Hubs and Centers across the WHO European region to collaborate on public health challenges.
• Established 2 WHO collaborating centers on Innovation in Nice, France and Szeged, Hungary to strengthen the work on innovation
• Organized several high-profile events including a side event at the Global High Level Technical meeting on NCDs, the first meeting on Building an Innovation Ecosystem in WHO Europe, a session at WHO's Public Health Leadership course, and a summer school on Systems Thinking and Innovation.
• Led the establishment of the Technical Advisory Group on Building an Innovation Ecosystem for Public Health (TAG-BIEFPH) with 15 expert members to provide strategic guidance.
• Demonstrated strong technical expertise, leadership, communication skills and commitment to advancing public health innovation through collaborative initiatives across the region.

• Provide leadership, technical expertise to support the countries in strengthening its capacities in the area of Science, Innovation management and Local Production of medical products
• Work closely with technical experts across the Organization and partner agencies and innovation networks to ensure co-development and scaling of health innovations and digital solutions in the Region
• Develop policies and regional strategies for multi-stakeholder engagement to facilitate ecosystem development to support development and local manufacturing of high impact innovations including vaccines in the Region
• Develop and manage portfolio of health innovations including emerging technologies that require funding to transition to scale.
• Provide technical support to countries to institutionalize innovation support at the highest national level to ensure needs-driven scaling of health innovations
• Led the development of health products and digital technologies for COVID-19 response under Incident Management System for the pandemic in the African region
• Lead the development of the WHO AFRO Research and development agenda to foster development of critical medical products and technologies with the view of promoting local production of critical medical supplies

Key achievements

• I represented WHO AFRO as part of the WHO global team that negotiated and secured €24.5 million from the EU to support local manufacturing of vaccines, medicines, and health technologies.
• I was the lead liaison in securing and implementation of the USD5 million BMGF grant to spearhead the digitization of health campaigns in four demonstration countries that include DRC, Kenya, Nigeria and Benin
• I was the chairperson for the United Nations Regional Coordination Platform on 'Leveraging emerging technologies and digital transition for inclusive growth and development', which is a United Nations Development System initiative set up by the UN Regional Directors to accelerate attainment of SDGs in Africa
• I have supported Botswana to develop an integrated e-platform called the Botswana Innovation Management System (BIMS). The platform is aimed at streamlining the efforts by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to coordinate partnership driven activities around harnessing and scaling up health innovations and digital initiatives in the country.
• I supported Zimbabwe to develop its strategic framework for strengthening its Research, Development and Innovation ecosystems to contribute to local production of medical supplies for COVID-19.
• I am recognized internationally as a thought leader and champion of innovation for public health impact.

As an Innovation Lead for WHO Afro's transformation agenda, I spearheaded innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing the organization's responsiveness in supporting Member States across the African region.

Keys achievements

• Successfully launched the first WHO Innovation Challenge that unearthed over 2500 innovations from the continent and beyond
• I have developed the first ever Region Strategy for Scaling Health Innovations in the WHO Africa region, which was unanimously adopted by the Regional Member States at the 70th Regional Committee that was held in August 2020
• Forged partnership with the TEXGHS, a US Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TexGHS) that resulted in support for local innovators including seed funding from Global Health Security Fund (GHSF)
• Successfully developed the WHO AFRO Innovation Marketplace digital platform (https://innov.afro.who.int/) to facilitate match making of impactful innovations and digital solutions between supply and demand, and to foster collaboration in bringing the innovations to scale at country level.
• I have successfully organized the first WHO AFRO Hackathon for COVID-19. The hackathon aimed at developing innovative digital tools and approaches for COVID-19 response in the African region
• Facilitated capacity-building initiatives, training, and knowledge sharing activities to foster a culture of innovation within WHO AFRO and among Member States.

As part of the implementation of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation Management, and Intellectual Property, I played a pivotal role in advancing local pharmaceutical production and improving access to essential medicines in developing countries. My responsibilities included:

• Leading the coordination, monitoring and reporting of the implementation of a €4.8 million European Commission grant among multiple international partners, including UN agencies such as UNCTAD and UNAIDS. This involved overseeing fund utilization, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, drafting financial and technical reports, and successfully applying for a no-cost extension to maximize project impact.
• Contributing to the development of policy guidance and strategies to establish viable local industries for pharmaceutical production, promoting access to essential medicines and health products.
• Providing technical support to countries on technology transfer for local manufacturing of strategically selected health products, improving access to quality-assured medical products.
• Coordinating the production of key publications by various partners to inform global health policies and practices (e.g., Manual on Policy Coherence for Pharmaceutical Production and Innovation and The Role of Intellectual Property in Local Production in Developing Countries).
• Facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including governments, academia, NGOs, and international organizations, aligning efforts under the Global Strategy's objectives.
• Coordinating the establishment of business partnerships across WHO and external organizations to support local pharmaceutical production initiatives.

Key achievements

• Successfully managed the European Commission-funded project “Improving Access to Medical Products in Developing Countries Through Building Capacity for Local Production and Related Technology Transfer” (2010–2015), fostering collaboration among UN agencies (UNCTAD, UNAIDS), academic institutions, and NGOs.
• Coordinated the production of strategic knowledge products that have informed global health strategies, including Manual on Policy Coherence for Pharmaceutical Production and Innovation (UNCTAD, 2014); a Policy Analysis Matrix for Ethiopia (UNCTAD, 2014); the Role of Intellectual Property in Local Production in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Challenges (WHO, 2016); reports on Prices and Availability of Locally Produced and Imported Medicines in Ethiopia and Tanzania (2013–2015); and Cuban Experience with Local Production of Medicines, Technology Transfer, and Improving Access to Health (WHO, 2015).
• Supported Ethiopia in developing its National Strategy and Plan of Action for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development (2015–2025), which serves as a model for other African nations.
• Facilitated high-level partner coordination that strengthened collaborative efforts to advance the local production agenda across Africa.
• Played a critical role in fostering policy coherence by bridging gaps between industrial policies and public health objectives through capacity-building workshops, actionable policy recommendations, and high-level dialogues.

As part of the WHO initiative on the assessment for the local manufacturers’ capacity for technology transfer for local production of pandemic influenza vaccine in developing countries, I was hired as a consultant to support Biovac Institute, vaccine manufacturer based in Cape Town, South Africa for the following activities

• To do a comprehensive strategic business analysis of the company's business model to provide forecast on the long term viability of local production of vaccines
• Develop a costing/ financial model for the company as a foresight tool to be applied in discussions with strategic partners regarding partnership and technology transfer deals
• Map and analyze key resources and capabilities and other strategic business elements needed to establish the local vaccine production capacity to meet international quality standards.
• Perform an analysis of economic, health and social benefits, and determination of key drivers and barriers for the establishment of a sustainable vaccine manufacturing facility including investment costs.
• Perform an analysis of regulatory process and provide strategic recommendations on how to navigate in order to penetrate new markets.
• Provide comprehensive recommendations informed by the analytical business assessment including strategic road map based on innovative business model and financial modelling for the development of sustainable vaccine manufacturing facility

Key achievements

• Lead setting up the Africa Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), a Non Governmental Organization aimed at working with governments, regional bodies, NGO’s, the private sector, academic institutions, and relevant key opinion leaders to create an environment on the African continent, which is conducive to the emergence, development and sustainability of vaccine and biological manufacturers that meet global quality standards.
• Contributing to the published research work that provided an analytical assessment of the vaccine manufacturing capacity and procurement mechanisms for establishing sustainable vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa.
• Successfully developed a strategic roadmap for the Biovac Institute to ensure its long term profitability and sustainability
• Developed a comprehensive costing tool aimed at providing the basis for negotiating with partners in technology transfer deals

I was involved in R&D activities to develop molecular diagnostics tools for gynecological cancers through evaluating the potential application of BARD1 isoforms as oncogenic markers for cervical, breast and ovarian cancers

Key achievements

• I contributed to the research outputs that lead to the formation of a start up called BARD1 Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: BD1) that is currently having a market capitalization of USD$60 million
• I contributed to the development and clinical validation of fluid-based ovarian and lung cancer biomarker prototype tests

• I was involved in research activties aiming at investigating the biochemical effects of proteins that recognize methylated DNA in cancer genesis

Key achievements

• Published the research findings in peer reviewed journal: The RBBP6/ZBTB38/MCM10 axis regulates DNA replication and common fragile site stability. Cell reports, [online] 7(2), pp.575–587. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2014.03.030.