Veterinarians Without Borders

Published purpose

This project supports 190 volunteer placements and aims to improve the economic and social well-being of the poorest, most marginalized people, particularly women and girls, through animal, human and environmental health contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to increasing engagement of Canadians in international development and key global issues, this project works to increase the performance of 10 developing country partners to deliver more inclusive, innovative, and environmentally sustainable development initiatives that advance gender equality. The project also works to use the skills of Canadian volunteers to support smallholder farmers, primarily women, to reduce poverty by improving family income and nutrition principally through improved production of livestock and crops. By working with local women’s organizations and associations, as well as local partners that work with and support the identified women’s groups, the project aims to help women assume greater leadership and control over their livelihoods. Project activities include: (1) recruiting and providing gender sensitive training to Canadian volunteers; (2) selecting and training women as community animal health workers in 93 communities; (3) conducting gender equality, gendered environmental and organizational capacity assessments with country partners; (4) developing policies on gender equality, animal health and the environment with partners, and providing gender sensitivity training to farming communities and staff of partner organizations, as well as delivering seminars to improve livelihoods of rural farmers through animal husbandry and production training; and (5) integrating innovative practices (telemedicine, gender equitable-family model, bio-gas harvesting) to reduce the workload burden for women.