Johnson & Johnson says it will supply up to 400m doses of its vaccine to the African Union’s member states.
The jab is a single shot, which should simplify its rollout in comparison to the other current vaccines, which require a second dose.
Delivery will begin later in the year for 220 million doses, with the rest scheduled for the following year.
The supplies will help the African continent reach its target of immunising 60% of the population.