VETS UNITED Pilot programe 2015 – 2024
To enable animal health professionals to fulfil their important role as advocates animal welfare must be a comprehensive part of the academic education as well as continuous professional development to strengthen their animal welfare knowledge, skills, and awareness.
To support tertiary academic education institutions and CPD providers to improve their animal welfare training, WTS started the VETS UNITED programme in 2015.
Pilot Projects
Between 2015 and 2020 seven VETS UNITED pilot projects were started in six African countries. Five projects (in Malawi, The Gambia, Uganda, Liberia, and Kenya) focused on improving animal welfare training in academic education. Two projects (in Uganda and Rwanda) focused on the improving animal welfare training in continuous professional development of veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals. In addition, animal welfare training workshops for veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals were held in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Romania.
All pilot projects were developed and conducted with local partners including universities, colleges, animal welfare NGOs and veterinary institutions. Each project was supervised by a local animal health professional as VETS UNITED Project Manager.
For more information on the pilot projects 2015 – 2024 please see VETS UNITED Pilot Projects Report 2015 – 2024
M&E
The M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) report summarizes all M&E activities and findings from 2015 to 2024. Data and feedback from participants were collected from the start of the program. In 2017 a formal M&E framework was introduced to assess the process towards the intended outcomes of the program. The M&E activities included routine data collection, gaps and need analysis, student tracer studies, a distance learning survey and a project evaluation.
The Gambia – Academic Education
The VETS UNITED project in The Gambia was conducted from 2016 to 2025 in collaboration with the Gambia College and the University of the Gambia. During the project the curricula were revised and updated regarding animal welfare, lecturers trained annually, and a small ruminant farm was set up at Gambia College to improve practical training for the students.
Kenya – Academic Education
The VETS UNITED project in Kenya was conducted from 2020 to 2025 in collaboration with 5 Kenyan universities: Egerton University, Pwani University, Kenyatta University, Nairobi University and Maasai Mara University. Within the scope of the project lecturers at the partner institutions were trained in relevant animal welfare topics. The lectures also received detailed, up to date animal welfare teaching materials.
Liberia – Academic Education
The VETS UNITED project in Liberia was conducted from 2019 to 2025 in collaboration with Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society, Lofa County University and Cuttington University. In 2023 Liberia International Christian College and Nimba County University also joined the project. During the project period the institutions reviewed and updated their curricula and lecturers were trained. The implementation of the project was supported by animal welfare experts from the VETS UNITED Gambia project.
Malawi – Academic Education
The VETS UNITED project in Malawi was conducted from 2015 to 2025 in collaboration with the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Natural Resources College at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. As part of the project the curricula were revised and animal welfare content added. Education staff at both institutions were trained in animal welfare.
Rwanda – Continuous Professional Development
The VETS UNITED Continuous Professional Development (CPD) project in Rwanda was conducted from 2020 to 2024 in collaboration with New Vision Veterinary Hospital and the Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors. During the project gaps and needs regarding animal welfare in continuous professional development (CPD) were identified. In 2023 national official CPD guidelines were approved. Additionally, workshops were conducted to train trainers for animal welfare CPD courses.
Uganda – Academic Education
The VETS UNITED academic education project in Uganda was conducted from 2018 to 2025 in collaboration with the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity at Makerere University. The project focused on the courses Bachelor of Animal Production, Wildlife Health and Management, Livestock Industry and Business and Veterinary Medicine. The curricula of these study courses were revised and missing animal welfare content added. In addition, the educational staff were trained annually.
Uganda – Continuous Professional Development
The VETS UNITED Continuous Professional Development (CPD) project in Uganda was conducted from 2016 to 2023 in collaboration with Bam Animal Clinics and the Uganda Veterinary Board (UVB). In 2017 official nationwide CPD guidelines for veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) were drafted and in 2023 they were published making continuous professional development mandatory for all registered veterinarians and VPPs. In addition, animal welfare CPD workshops were conducted in a pilot region training 80% of all VPPs in that region.