On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new type of Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes COVID-19 respiratory disease, a global pandemic. AAS, together with various partners including AUDA-NEPAD, conducted a series of priority setting engagements for R&D for COVID-19 with over 1400 African scientists contributing to a consolidated list of priorities which is covered in this publication