Mapping Africa's
Genomic Labs
Explore the map and discover how genomic laboratories across 47 countries in Africa are growing, tracking diseases, and protecting health across the continent. Dive into the network to see how local facilities use state-of-the-art technology to detect, sequence, and report on genomics directly within their own borders.
Project overview
Launched in June 2021, the Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) program was a $1.5 billion partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and Africa CDC. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the continent relied on just two main sequencing labs located in South Africa and Senegal. By the time the program successfully closed in 2025, it had expanded this network to 55 fully equipped laboratories across 47 countries, enabling almost every African nation to process health samples locally and independently.
This platform gives you an inside look at that transformation and how Africa has built its ability to track and fight diseases. Click on any location on the map to see the specific Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) support that facility received, the technology it uses to track viruses and bacteria in real time, and a direct link to the individual lab's website.
This expanded network is critical because it:
- Drives Evidence-Based Policy: By generating and analyzing data locally, African nations can make faster, more informed decisions for their populations.
- Strengthens Global Health Security: Local testing dramatically reduces the time it takes to detect, track, and respond to new disease outbreaks.
- Expands Scientific Innovation: Beyond immediate pandemic response, these laboratories contribute vital scientific research to other critical fields, including agriculture and climate change.