Urgent call by the Rwandan Government for a WHO-qualified investor in a “cut and sew” facility manufacturing LLINs in Rwanda.

The Rwandan Government envisages this project to be operated under a Public Private Partnership arrangement involving the Government, a private investor and a WHO-certified Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) manufacturer, according to a statement calling for potential partners to express interest in establishment and operation of a “cut and sew” facility manufacturing LLINs in Rwanda, issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

It is projected that by 2020, the demand for LLINs will reach beyond 7.9 million nets.

Expectations of the Investor

The LLIN production facility is proposed to import pre-woven, pre-impregnated fabric purchased from a WHO-certified manufacturer.

The investor would be required to undertake the following core activities to produce LLINs out of the fabric:

1. In-country inspection and testing of imported fabric to check conformity of insecticide treatment with WHO recommendations; This exercise to be
conducted by the Rwanda Standards Board

2. Laying of fabric;

3. Marking fabric for cutting according to size/specification;

4. Cutting;

5. Sorting of cut fabric by sets;

6. Sewing;

7. Quality control of sewn nets in a WHO approved laboratory;

8. Trimming;

9. Folding and packing; and

10.Delivery.

The investor will facilitate the set up and operation of the unit, drawing on his or her unique knowledge of the local business operating environment. The LLINs will be manufactured to meet the technical specifications to be shared at the 'Request for Proposals' phase.

The investor will be required to transition from the “Cut and Sew” operation to a fully integrated facility making the insecticide impregnated mosquito nets in the country. For this, a clear migration plan will be required during the 'Request for Proposals' phase.

The budget for setting up the factory will depend on its size and expected production.

*Note: The Minister for Health, Dr Diane Gashumba, told The New Times that last year, Government was working with a potential investor but the deal collapsed because the investor could not meet the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).