Volunteering for One Health — How Veterinarians Without Borders leverages volunteer-sending programs to strengthen systems globally

Global health issues are becoming increasingly interconnected. Challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic disease outbreaks, food insecurity, and climate change transcend borders and all sectors and call for more integrated approaches and policies. The One Health approach, which recognizes the interdependence of animals, humans, and the environment, offers a framework for understanding these cross-sectoral challenges. Addressing these threats, however, requires more than just concepts and policy frameworks. It demands that people work directly with communities in the field to strengthen systems and build resilience — these are individuals with the right knowledge and expertise to turn One Health principles into action.

As a leader in the One Health field, Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord (VWB/VSF) meets this need through structured volunteer-sending programs. By combining veterinary medicine with public health, gender equality and social inclusion, environmental stewardship, and other disciplines, VWB/VSF’s initiatives move beyond siloed interventions to address global health challenges.

Through a model grounded in cultural responsiveness and local leadership, VWB/VSF ensures that its programs are designed to meet the unique needs of each community. Whether increasing rabies awareness and providing vaccination coverage in remote communities in northern Canada, supporting gender-responsive livestock training in Ghana and Kenya, or strengthening antimicrobial resistance awareness in Southeast Asia, these initiatives demonstrate the power of volunteerism to strengthen community health systems.

This article highlights how VWB/VSF’s volunteer-sending programs are advancing One Health outcomes around the world. It outlines the organization’s approach and core pillars, illustrates its impact through case studies, and reflects on the lessons learned from more than 2 decades of successfully operationalizing the One Health approach through volunteerism.

VWB’S VOLUNTEER-SENDING MODEL

Since its inception in 2005, VWB/VSF has developed programs and a volunteer-sending model that transform theory into practice. VWB/VSF is guided by its Theory of Change, which revolves around the intrinsic value of animals and the interconnectedness of health in animals, humans, and environments. Through its programs, VWB/VSF invests in sustainable, community-centered animal health systems that strengthen human health, livelihoods, and well-being. Programs focus on important interrelated elements: disease prevention, integrated livelihoods, equitable access, emergency management, capacity strengthening, and One Health systems.

Building on the Theory of Change, VWB/VSF’s volunteer-sending model follows several key pillars:

• The importance of cross-sector collaboration — addressing animal health issues is more effective when linked with public health, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental management.

• Gender equality and social inclusion — women’s participation in health and agriculture is critical for lasting change. Volunteer programs are designed to amplify women’s voices and leadership.

• Locally led approach — programs are implemented in partnership with local organizations and leaders and are guided by community priorities.

• Sustainability — volunteers focus on capacity building, equipping communities with the skills, knowledge, and tools that they need to continue making progress long after a volunteer’s placement ends.

With these pillars in mind, the volunteer-sending model works by first identifying local community priorities and needs. Once these are defined, communities are connected with the professional expertise of volunteers. Across VWB/VSF’s programs, volunteers include veterinarians, gender specialists, agriculture experts, business development advisors, and more. Experts in their respective fields, these volunteers contribute by collaborating and knowledge sharing, combining their skills with local expertise and context. This model emphasizes the importance of participatory approaches, through which local knowledge and leadership guide decisions and program design. Because VWB/VSF’s programs are locally led, they can successfully build and strengthen the capacity of local communities and provide long-term, sustainable, and repeatable solutions.

The One Health approach to volunteer-sending has been applied at VWB/VSF across a wide range of initiatives, both in Canada and around the world. Whether providing access to animal care in remote communities in northern Canada, or strengthening livelihoods through livestock and agriculture programs internationally, the model has demonstrated adaptability across diverse cultural and geographic settings. By grounding each project in community priorities, VWB/VSF ensures that its work is locally relevant and addresses real-world needs.

VWB/VSF’S ONE HEALTH VOLUNTEER MODEL IN ACTION

Volunteers engaged in gender-responsive technical solutions

One of the strongest demonstrations of this model in action is the Volunteers Engaged in Gender-Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) Program. Since 2020, VETS has deployed > 100 volunteers across 6 countries in Africa and Asia to strengthen community-led animal health systems, improve livelihoods, and enhance gender equality. The ultimate goal of this 8-year program is to improve the economic and social well-being of marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in these 6 countries through One Health initiatives. VETS volunteers — veterinarians, agricultural advisors, fundraising experts, gender specialists, communications professionals and more — work with local partner organizations to share their knowledge and technical expertise to enhance community programming and improve health outcomes for humans, their livestock, and the environment.

Kenya

Farmer training in Kenya offers a powerful example of One Health in action through the work of VETS volunteers who support capacity building of Community One Health Champions (COHCs). These volunteers are local dairy farmers who are selected by the partner organizations in Kenya and are trained to demonstrate livestock care, farm management, and environmental practices to their community and neighboring farmers. Through the COHC initiative, VETS volunteers help to train COHCs on calf-rearing, cow comfort, disease prevention, and other related topics. Beyond veterinary knowledge, VETS volunteers also train farmers on composting, silage production and storage, and manure management. These methods reduce waste, improve soil fertility, and create cleaner and healthier environments for both farmers and their livestock. Volunteers also address traditional gender roles in their trainings, by encouraging knowledge sharing within the family. In Kenya, women are typically the primary caretakers of cows and other livestock, so it is important for them to attend these training sessions. But equally important is for men to be engaged in these practices; therefore, VETS volunteers encourage knowledge sharing within the family as a key part of their training approach.

Shelmith Mwai, a dairy farmer and COHC in Nyeri County, Kenya, is an incredible example of the success of these One Health training initiatives. Through trainings and farm visits from VETS volunteers and the COHC initiative, Shelmith has transformed her farm and the life of her family. Before becoming a COHC, Shelmith did not believe a cow could produce more than 20 L of milk per day. She now, happily, has a cow that produces 24 to 25 L of milk per day. She also received training on manure management and composting and has thriving crops. Her farm now produces enough fodder that she no longer needs to buy any. Shelmith’s husband, Peter, was originally sceptical of dairy farming. But after watching Shelmith’s passion and through her knowledge sharing with the family, Peter is fully onboard. He and Shelmith now make decisions together for their farm, share knowledge and ideas, and even have a joint bank account — an important development in a context in which household finances are typically managed only by men.

Through volunteers supporting farmers like Shelmith with training on animal husbandry, gender equality, and environmental management, the VETS program reinforces the importance of a holistic One Health approach.

Cambodia

Another example from the VETS program is in Cambodia, where VETS volunteers are working with local partner organization, Agronomes et vétérinaires sans frontières (AVSF), Cambodia. With AVSF, volunteers have been supporting the organization to strengthen smallholder farming systems by addressing important links among animal health, livelihoods, and the environment.

Harold Rudy, a soil expert and agricultural advisor, is a VETS volunteer who collaborated with AVSF during his 3-month placement to support farmers and their families in Preah Vihear Province. Harold used his expertise on soil health and sustainable crop production to train farmers on composting, manure management, and soil fertility. Through his training, he was able to help local farmers reduce input costs, improve crop yields, and create healthier environments for their livestock. The knowledge that he shared with the AVSF team and local farmers in Preah Vihear will help to enhance food security but will also ensure that these farms become more resilient to major climate change issues (e.g., drought), in the future.

VWB’s Megan Sylka with COHC Shelmith Mwai and her husband, Peter, on their farm.

NAHI Clinic set up at fire station in Tuktoyaktuk, NWT.

NAHI clinic team arriving in Kimmirut, Nunavut.

NAHI volunteers setting up for clinic.

Volunteer, Harold Rudy, with AVSF team members and Ecocert (organic certification) inspectors at the Ramduol Samakimeanchey Mlupreypi Agriculture Cooperative in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia.

Ghana

Not all VETS volunteers work directly in the field. Some serve in office-based roles, strengthening the capacity of partner organizations in areas such as business plan development, fundraising, and communications. By building this internal expertise, volunteers ensure that local partners are equipped to support the farmers and communities that they work with.

In Ghana, volunteer Guy Audet, an organizational development advisor, completed a 2-month volunteer placement with a local partner, The Apex Body of Women in Poultry Value Chain (WIPVaC-Apex). Guy was based at their head office in Accra where he provided training on business planning and organizational development. By assisting WIPVaC-Apex to strengthen their internal systems and supporting members with their business plans, his work provided greater financial stability and growth for women across the poultry farming sector. The resulting economic resilience enables these farmers to invest in animal health, adopt sustainable practices, and improve the health and safety of their farms. In this way, volunteers training on financial empowerment and organizational development supports broader One Health outcomes.

Northern animal health initiative

The Northern Animal Health Initiative (NAHI) is a powerful example of VWB/VSF’s commitment to culturally responsive, community-led programming and truly highlights the success of promoting One Health through volunteerism. In many communities in northern Canada, there is limited access to veterinary services and care, which contributes to many challenges. Key challenges include overpopulation of domestic dogs; issues in managing health concerns at the intersection of wildlife, domestic animals, and human health; and elevated risks of zoonotic disease transmission, including rabies. Since 2021 the NAHI program, through the contributions of dedicated volunteers, has worked to address these challenges in the field.

The NAHI program follows VWB/VSF’s locally led approach and collaborates closely with community leaders, health representatives, and local organizations to strengthen animal health governance and build the capacity of community members. Volunteers, usually a mix of veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians, travel to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in spring and fall each year to host clinics through which they provide veterinary services such as spaying, neutering, vaccinations, and deworming. The clinics are also an opportunity to share knowledge and skills on animal care, disease prevention, parasite control, and the importance of vaccinations. These hands-on clinics are combined with public education programs that emphasize culturally appropriate methods and respect Indigenous knowledge systems.

A strategic component of NAHI’s approach is engaging youth as leaders and change-makers. At the start of most NAHI trips, volunteers visit middle schools and high schools to teach students about rabies, disease prevention, and safe interactions with animals. The importance of routine vaccinations is highlighted during these education sessions and students are encouraged to share this knowledge with their families and bring their animals to the NAHI clinics for routine vaccinations. During the actual clinics, these students and other community members are invited to observe procedures and participate in demonstrations, reinforcing the lessons that were discussed during the school visits and extending knowledge to households and entire communities.

The program’s impact is substantial. For example, between 2023 and 2024, 43 volunteers were mobilized in 11 communities. The program reached > 1200 animals and 1400 community members, with > 2000 vaccinations delivered. These efforts have led to increased rabies vaccination coverage, improved dog population management, and stronger awareness of zoonotic disease prevention. By mobilizing volunteers to work alongside community members, not only immediate veterinary support is provided, but also knowledge sharing is fostered, as are leadership development and sustainable One Health practices, all contributing to safer and healthier communities.

CONCLUSION

Across VWB/VSF’s volunteer-sending programs, our experience is that sustainable solutions require more than just technical expertise. VWB/VSF’s programs can effectively address challenges by linking veterinary knowledge with local leadership, environmental stewardship, public health initiatives, and gender-responsive practices. Central to this success are the volunteers themselves, skilled professionals sharing their expertise in the field to turn One Health principles into tangible improvements for animals, humans, and the environment.

For more information about VWB/VSF’s work in strengthening One Health systems around the world, visit https://www.vwb.org.