About Market Access Africa

Market Access Africa (MAA) is an African-led healthcare agency seeking to create pathbreaking solutions to catalyse access to health innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are a small team of seasoned global health and life sciences experts with deep strategic, policy, commercial and implementation experience, bound by a common vision and commitment to equitable and affordable access to health products and innovations. Our partners include commercial companies, development agencies, and public organizations including Ministries of Health and intergovernmental agencies.  

Where will you fit in? 

Market Access Africa is inviting talented individuals to participate in its Young Professionals Program that aims develop and build the future generation of African healthcare leaders who are passionate about access to health innovation. The program aims to bring together a diverse pool of Africans from universities across the world to work across our four practice areas – Product Commercialization, Public Affairs, Healthcare Delivery, and Health System Enablers.

Africa is focused on the development of its pharmaceutical industry as part of building more robust and sustainable national health systems, and contributing to improvement in responsiveness to local needs and broadening overall economic activity through synergies and linkages between industrial and health system investments.

We are looking for a resourceful and highly inquisitive Industrial Development/Biopharmaceuticals manufacturing young professional to be an integral part of our team of experts and practitioners. In this role, you will work with consultants across our four practice areas to deliver synthesized, actionable facts and data insights which contribute towards a more global view of product development and commercialization.

The biopharmaceutical field broadly covers drugs or medicines for human or animal use, medical devices, diagnostics, radiopharmaceuticals, nutriceuticals. The stakeholder universe also includes health regulatory authorities, academia and research centres, clinical investigator sites and contract research organisations (CROs).

Additionally in biopharmaceutics, there are multiple points of origin that can yield different approaches, perspectives, and objectives. These include the following; manufacturing capacity and skills, trade integration, scientific cooperation, R&D, engineering, supply chain management, quality assurance and regulatory affairs, commercialization (market access, sales and marketing), information and operational technology (IT/OT).

What will you do?

• Contribute to comprehensive analysis of the business, social, political, economic, and public-health impact of local production of pharmaceuticals, therapeutics and diagnostics to better understand and communicate health care opportunities in Africa
• Gather deep insights on the biopharmaceutical ecosystem focusing on regional manufacturing, regulatory harmonization, collaboration and standardization initiatives, financing and technology transfer and leveraging on work and initiatives by AfDB, AMA, AU-NEPAD, UNIDO, IFC, World Bank, GIZ, SADC, WAHO, WHO , UNECA, and others.
• Conducting primary research – including setting research questions, collecting and analysing data and information to generate reports
• Participating in meetings with national, regional and global stakeholders to validate findings and recommendation
• Pro-actively monitoring progress against project plan and course-corrects with the team, as required
• Supporting consultants in all aspects of projects including general project organization, day-to-day project management, and client communications
• Collaborate with the Regulatory Affairs portfolio on national, regional and continental processes on market surveillance, safety monitoring, clinical trials, quality control, market authorization and inspections

‍What are we looking for?

• Advanced degree (or some Masters’ level courses) in global health, medicine, pharmacy, life sciences, industrial technology, engineering, finance, business administration, public policy, data science or related fields
• Prior experience working on healthcare projects in Africa, preferably in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory affairs and or management consulting
• Strong communication and presentation skills and the ability to communicate effectively and succinctly both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated experience synthesizing and communicating large amounts of information in a succinct manner
• Passionate about Africa’s sustainable development pathway
  

Interested?

Candidates who are resident in Botswana will have a significant advantage. Market Access Africa’s Young Professionals Program offers a moderate stipend. The duration of the program is 6 months.