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.
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.
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.
#VETSVolunteerVoices aims to bring you the stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. Meet Ian Parfitt, a GIS Mapping Advisor who spent three months in Cambodia (January–April 2025) supporting organic agriculture and digital transformation with our local partner, AVSF Cambodia.
Megan Sylka, Senior Program Officer at VWB, shares how her recent visit to Kenya revealed the powerful ripple effects of the VETS program—highlighting how Community One Health Champion Shelmith Mwai is transforming her dairy farm, her family dynamics, and her community through knowledge, leadership, and collaboration.
This article examines how a One Health approach can transform food safety systems by addressing the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment—highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration, innovations like Canada’s CFSIN, and global strategies to mitigate risks such as antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and zoonotic disease.
