Janine Mitchell is the Executive Director at Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Janine Mitchell joined Veterinarians Without Borders North America as Executive Director in August 2025, bringing more than two decades of experience in global health, One Health, and health systems strengthening in over 30 countries. She has lived and worked extensively across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, leading programs in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and disaster response.
Before joining VWB/VSF, Janine held senior positions with DAI, Mott MacDonald, and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), where she managed complex multi-country portfolios and collaborated with governments, academic institutions, and major global donors such as USAID, UK-FCDO, and the Hewlett Foundation. Her career reflects a consistent focus on building resilient, locally led systems that address the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment.
Janine is also an Extraordinary Lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s School of Health Systems and Public Health in South Africa and supported the development of the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) to strengthen regional communities of practice in evidence-informed policymaking. She holds a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the University of Pretoria and is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusive development that centers the voices and leadership of local communities.
A community sensitization event in rural Senegal offers a window into how local partners and Community Animal Health Workers are building a culture of prevention through dialogue, trust, and repeated engagement under the COHERS program.
A mass vaccination campaign in rural Senegal reveals how Community Animal Health Workers are strengthening prevention, extending veterinary services, and protecting livelihoods in hard-to-reach communities through the COHERS program.
In Ghana’s Upper East Region, women Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) are transforming animal care and community health. Through VWB’s VETS program, they’re improving livestock management, advancing gender equality, and building resilient One Health systems from the ground up.
