In Senegal, Veterinarians Without Borders provides training to pastoralists on herd health, flock management, and climate-smart agriculture practices.
In Senegal, the Savannah landscape and climate lend themselves to livestock rearing as a core economic activity in rural areas, representing 5.5% of GDP and contributing to the livelihoods of 30% of households nationwide.
Health challenges related to high levels of human-animal interactions are compounded by human-caused environmental pressures. With the majority of the population in Senegal living in rural areas, the impacts of unsustainable framing practices and climate change is significant.
VWB has only recently begun working with communities in Senegal implementing our first project in the country with our partner Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières through our VETS project.
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With our partner in Senegal, AVSF, the VETS project aims to improve partner capacity to deliver inclusive gender-equitable One Health programming at the community level.
We will be providing training to pastoralists on herd health, flock management, and climate-smart agriculture practices. As well, we will support forest replenishment and better use of animal waste to improve soil fertility and increase crop production.
Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF) is an international NGO which has operated in Senegal since 1991. AVSF has strong roots in the Casamance region, working in livestock production activities in the prairies of the Fatik region, and in the Ferlo savannah.
AVSF strives to help women become more independent by strengthening organizations of women cashew and sesame producers and organizations of women poultry farmers. AVSF also supports agricultural food production and the creation of fairer supply chains (often fair trade or organic) for producers.
In this edition of Ask an Expert, we spoke with veterinarian Dr. Elena Garde, whose career has spanned wildlife disease research, zoonotic disease, disaster response and community-based animal health across Canada, Latin America and beyond.
Register now for our World AMR Awareness Week 2026 webinar, which brings together experts in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), animal health, and One Health to examine where progress is being made in the global response to AMR, why gaps persist between policy commitments and implementation, and what stronger coordination across human, animal, and environmental health can contribute to meaningful, lasting change.
Written by Janine Mitchell, Executive Director of VWB, in recognition of One Health Day (November 3), this article draws on the FAO Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems and the VSF International General Assembly to explore what it takes to turn One Health commitments into action—from building equitable partnerships and strengthening collaboration to ensuring practical systems and accountability.
