CEPSA’s first pharmacovigilance training workshop

The Centre of Excellence for Pharmacovigilance in Southern Africa (CEPSA) marked a major milestone with its first pharmacovigilance workshop in November 2025, bringing together experts from across Africa to strengthen PV capacity through immersive, hands-on training

Our first pharmacovigilance workshop was held 17-21 November 2025, marking an exciting milestone for the Centre of Excellence for Pharmacovigilance in Southern Africa (CEPSA). The event was co-hosted in Cape Town by the University of the Western Cape and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, in a very welcome partnership with the Africa CDC and the Team Europe Initiative on AU-EU Health Partnership, which includes support for manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa (MAV+).

At CEPSA, we are committed to transforming the PV landscape in Southern Africa. Our mission is to strengthen every aspect of pharmacovigilance for medicines and vaccines across their entire lifecycle, with advanced training and capacity building at the core of our work. Through this flagship training programme, we aim to empower a new generation of PV leaders, innovators, and advocates, both within the region and internationally, while supporting the development of a stronger regulatory ecosystem around local production hubs.

What makes CEPSA’s PV training programme truly innovative is its immersive, hands-on design. Delivered entirely in person, it creates a dynamic environment for collaboration, networking, and shared learning. Participants engaged directly with real-world PV challenges, following a practical problem-solving journey that takes them from signal detection to effective risk communication. For the first cohort of 21 participants from 18 African countries it was a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and share as we help lay the foundation for a vibrant, long-term PV community of practice.