Women in Livestock Microenterprise Development (WILMED)
Status: Completed (WILMED was a one-year initiative, from 2025 to 2026)
Goal: To improve the livelihoods and economic security of women and girls through strengthened livestock production, improved access to animal health services, and increased women’s leadership and participation in decision-making.
Target Groups: Women poultry and livestock farmers in underserved rural communities.
Where: Ghana
Reach: WILMED directly reached 3,023 people, including 2,591 women and girls.
The Situation
In rural Ghana, poultry and livestock provide important sources of food, income, and economic opportunity for women and their families. Yet women farmers in underserved communities often face barriers to accessing animal health services, technical knowledge, financial resources, and opportunities to participate in household and community decision-making.
Animal disease, limited veterinary access, and gaps in livestock management can reduce productivity and threaten household food and economic security. At the same time, climate and environmental pressures create additional challenges for livestock-dependent households. Strengthening women’s knowledge, access to services and finance, and leadership can therefore improve not only livestock production, but also household well-being and community resilience.
What We Achieved
Over one year, the Women in Livestock Microenterprise Development (WILMED) project worked alongside women farmers, Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs), veterinary professionals, women-led groups, and community stakeholders to strengthen livestock production, expand access to animal health services, and increase women’s economic opportunities and participation in decision-making.
Using a gender-responsive, climate-resilient One Health approach, the project combined practical livestock and animal health training with community-based veterinary services, financial inclusion, leadership development, and community engagement.
Key results include:
Beyond the project's funded period, the CAHW network continues to provide local animal health services, while the revolving loan fund and savings groups continue to expand women's access to finance. By combining stronger animal health systems with financial inclusion and women's leadership, WILMED established community-based systems that can continue supporting healthier animals, stronger livelihoods, and greater resilience.
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Advancing Gender Equality
WILMED recognized that strengthening women’s livelihoods also means addressing the barriers that can limit their voice, safety, and participation in their households and communities.
Alongside leadership and economic empowerment activities, the project supported community engagement on gender equality, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), adolescent reproductive health, and girls’ education. Traditional leaders, schools, health professionals, media, and civil society organizations were engaged to build awareness and strengthen support for women and girls.
In Central Tongu District, this work contributed to the development of a community-led action plan to support vulnerable groups and strengthen local responses to GBV. Women participating in WILMED also reported greater confidence in leadership, business management, and household and community decision-making.
Our Partners
WILMED was made possible through the generous support of the Peter Gilgan Foundation, whose funding enabled VWB and WIPVaC-Apex Ghana to bring together animal health, women’s economic empowerment, and One Health in a single community-led initiative.
Thank you to the Peter Gilgan Foundation for investing in greater opportunities for women and girls in Ghana.
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