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VWB/VSF in Africa

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Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord couldn't do the work we do without your support. Whether it's a financial donation or a donation of your time, by improving the health of animals you will be working to improve the health and quality of life for people throughout the world.

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What We're Working On

In Sub-Saharan Africa, investing in animal health is essential not just for the well-being of animals but also for the prosperity of the local communities that rely on them for their livelihoods. This region faces unique challenges due to climate change, which underscores the urgency of adopting sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices.

At VWB/VSF, we are deeply committed to working hand-in-hand with local partners and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa through a range of One Health projects. One initiative is the extensive Volunteers Engaged in Gender-Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) program, generously funded by Global Affairs Canada. From 2020-2028, this program will deploy 190 dedicated Canadian volunteers on behalf of VWB/VSF to Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal. The primary goal is to uplift the economic and social well-being of marginalized individuals, especially women and girls, in six countries across Africa and Asia.

In South Sudan, VWB/VSF's local team is working to implement interventions that strengthen agricultural resilience, reduce vulnerabilities, and enhance the capacity of local communities to cope with challenges at the national level.

Similarly, our Community One Health Empowerment Rwanda and Senegal (COHERS) program is in close partnership with local organizations. Together, we are dedicated to advancing public health, veterinary care, and environmental policies under a single, inclusive umbrella. Our approach balances the well-being of humans, animals, and ecosystems throughout the region.

See below to learn more about each of our current projects in Africa.

Current Projects in Africa

Women in Rwanda smiling

Community One Health Empowerment in Rwanda and Senegal (COHERS)

PROGRAM DETAILS
PROJECT DATES: 2023-2027
PROJECT GOAL:

To empower communities to improve health outcomes through One Health approaches to prevent, detect, and respond to prevalent zoonoses, including anthrax and cysticercosis. 

FUNDING PARTNERS:

Global Affairs Canada 

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Strengthening One Health Systems for the Protection of Health and Livelihoods (1-SHOP)

PROGRAM DETAILS
PROJECT DATES: 2024-2026
PROJECT GOAL:

To enhance the resilience of pastoralist communities in Torit County against animal diseases, including zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

FUNDING PARTNERS:

Zoetis Foundation

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Volunteers Engaged in Gender-Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS)

PROGRAM DETAILS
PROJECT DATES: 2020-2028
PROJECT GOAL:

To work to improve the economic and social well-being of the world’s most marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in six countries across Africa and Asia (i.e., Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam).

FUNDING PARTNERS:

Global Affairs Canada

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  • COHERS

    Community One Health Empowerment Rwanda & Senegal (COHERS) is a strategically designed initiative that aims to address One Health Empowerment in Rwanda and Senegal.
    Read more »
  • Ghana

    Since 2015, VWB/VSF has been working in Ghana to provide skilled volunteers to assist local partners in improving the nutrition and livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
    Read more »
  • Kenya

    The Kenyan dairy industry contributes to the livelihoods of many farmers who lack formal economic opportunities and are subsistence farmers, wholly relying on livestock for income and nutrition.
    Read more »
  • Senegal

    In Senegal, Veterinarians Without Borders provides training to pastoralists on herd health, flock management, and climate-smart agriculture practices.   
    Read more »
  • Strengthening One Health Systems for the Protection of Health and Livelihoods (1-SHOP)

    South Sudan is facing a state of emergency around food security and livelihoods due to longstanding violent political conflicts and the effects of climate change.
    Read more »

Stories From Around The World

VETS Volunteer Voices: From Community Medicine to Calf Care in Kenya

VETS Volunteer Voices: From Community Medicine to Calf Care in Kenya

Posted Jul 8th, 2025

#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you inspiring stories from the field, showcasing the impactful work of our dedicated VETS program volunteers. Meet Dr. Riley Bauman (DVM), an Animal Health Advisor who spent two months in Kenya (April–June 2025), working alongside smallholder dairy farmers and Meru Dairy staff to promote animal health, gender equity, and sustainable livelihoods.

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The Silent Threat of Anthrax: Making the Case for Community-Led Zoonotic Surveillance

The Silent Threat of Anthrax: Making the Case for Community-Led Zoonotic Surveillance

Posted Jul 4th, 2025

This article explores the persistent threat of anthrax and the critical need for community-led surveillance in preventing zoonotic outbreaks. It highlights how VWB’s One Health approach—through the COHERS program, CAHW training, and gender-responsive outreach—strengthens local capacity to detect and manage neglected diseases, protecting both human and animal health in vulnerable communities.

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VETS Volunteer Voices: Business Plans and Bold Futures for Ghana’s Women Farmers

VETS Volunteer Voices: Business Plans and Bold Futures for Ghana’s Women Farmers

Posted Jun 25th, 2025

#VETSVolunteerVoices aims to bring you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. This blog was written by Guy Audet, a Business Development Advisor who supported our VETS program partner, WIPVaC-Apex, in Ghana from March to May 2025.

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  • My voluntary assignments in Ghana for the past three years have dramatically improved animal production in terms of reducing mortality and increasing the size of the herd/flock.
    - Joseph Ansong-Danquah

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