Kenya: Cooperation toward Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)

Core base for infectious disease testing, research, and human resource development

  • Over the past around 40 years, JICA has continued to provide support for KEMRI as a core research institute, by way of intangible cooperation through five technical cooperation projects and tangible cooperation through three Official Development Assistance (ODA) grant aids.
  • Since 2009, JICA has provided support for the implementation of two joint research cooperation programs (numerous joint research programs with international organizations and universities around the world).

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Planting trees during KEMRI's opening ceremony

KEMRI's contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • At its peak, 50% of the COVID-19 PCR tests in Kenya were processed at KEMRI.
  • KEMRI has been commissioned by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to carry out performance tests on testing kits.

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Consultation between Japanese experts and KEMRI personnel

JICA's cooperation

  • (Support on COVID-19 measures) Provision of supplies and equipment including testing kits and testing consumables.
  • (Ongoing) Accepting international students for human resource development in the field of infectious disease control
  • (Developing) Technical cooperation/ODA grant aid toward strengthening KEMRI's research, training, and human resource development

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Development of Kenyan researchers

Impact on neighboring countries

  • KEMRI has implemented programs to strengthen testing capacity for infectious diseases in six countries in Eastern Africa and played a leadership role in regional infectious disease control.

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Research cooperation between Japanese research institutes and KEMRI

JICA's cooperation

  • (Ongoing) Third Country Training of Strengthening Laboratory Preparedness for Building Resilience against Public Health Emergencies in Eastern Africa

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Production department

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Training for Eastern African countries