The government of Israel says it was donating 1 million coronavirus vaccines to the U.N.-backed COVAX program.

The Foreign Ministry in a statement Wednesday says the AstraZeneca vaccines would be transferred in the coming weeks, a decision that was part of Israel’s strengthening ties with the African countries.

The announcement says the vaccines would reach close to a quarter of African countries, though it did not provide a list. 

Israel has close ties with a number of African nations, including Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

COVAX is a global initiative that aims to provide coronavirus vaccines to poorer nations. Wealthier countries have acquired most of the world’s vaccine supplies, causing vast inequality in access to jabs.