On the Burundian countryside poverty prevails: 7 out of 10 inhabitants are hungry. Children are only eating a poor meal twice a day. Due to the high population density there is a shortage of fertile ground and thus food is scarce. Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Belgium wants to do something to improve this situation. That’s why we started a development program in Burundi in 2014.
Briefing note: women pastoralists’ empowerment – supporting positive change
CELEP collaborated with WISP (World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism), IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) in bringing out a briefing note (4pp) on ‘Women pastoralists’ empowerment: supporting positive change’. Examples come from around the world, including Eastern Africa, of how pastoral women regard their own empowerment and how this can be supported.
Policy brief: on the milky way in the global South
Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Belgium presents its policy brief on smallholder dairy production in the global South.
Policy brief: livestock family farming systems
A policy brief by VSF Belgium on livestock family farming systems in the global South.
Study: the role of small-scale livestock farming in climate change and food security
Study conducted by VSF International on the role of small-scale livestock farming in climate change and food security.
Position paper: livestock and climate change
VSF International’s position paper on Livestock and climate change. Going beyond preconceived ideas and recognizing the contribution of small-scale livestock farming facing climate change.
Position paper: agroecology and one health
VSF International’s position paper on Agroecology and One Health. Building a solid and lasting One Health on the basis of Agroecology.
Position paper: small-scale livestock farming and food sovereignty
VSF International’s position paper on Small-Scale Livestock Farming and Food Sovereignty.
It’s all about poo-poo
Building latrines can be a good solution. A latrine is probably even one of the best solutions. But why is the construction of latrines one of those development projects that so often seem to fail? The examples are plenty: toilet constructions that are so nice that they are now being used as the office of a local politician; latrines that are locked, except when the NGO visits them because “it is Josephine’s toilet!”; the community who has built a nice latrine, or so it seems, until you open the door and you see there is not even a hole -they only wanted to please the donor… So, it is not about latrines. It is all about poo-poo.
“In the end, men and women face the same deadlines”
From the first moment I met her, I was impressed by her strong and energetic appearance. I am talking about Lucy Akello, the manager of MADEFO, local partner of VSF Belgium in Moroto district in Karamoja. For International Women’s Day, I had the opportunity to share a long evening talk with her about her own life, and about the role of women in Karimojong society. We were enjoying the cool evening temperature outside, surrounded by mosquitos, eating some succulent water melon while a kerosene lamp lightened up our conversation.