Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse and Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Germany had the honour of welcoming H.E. Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General of the World Organization for Animal Health (WoAH), to their Ethiopia Country Office during her inaugural mission to Ethiopia.
Addis Abeba, 19 February 2026
Accompanied by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the visit created space for an open and forward-looking exchange with Kebadu S. Belay (Country Director, VSF-Suisse), Genene Regassa (Country Director, VSF-Germany) and Wesinew Adugna (Head of Programs, VSF-Suisse).
A Shared Commitment to Animal Health
At the centre of the discussions was a common goal: strengthening Ethiopia’s veterinary services, particularly in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas where livestock health is directly linked to livelihoods and food security.
Since 2016, VSF teams have worked closely with government partners and communities to support the national eradication and control of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and other transboundary animal diseases. This collaboration combines:
- Innovative vaccination delivery reaching remote communities
- Community-based animal health workers, including a strong focus on women
- Structured public–private partnerships
- Alignment with national strategies and WoAH standards
The approach is built on long-term cooperation rather than short-term interventions.
Partnerships in Action
The Director General highlighted the practical, field-based nature of VSF’s work and the importance of strong cooperation between public institutions, local actors and international partners.
VSF-Suisse and VSF-Germany were the only non-state actors included in the Director General’s official programme. This reflects the trust-based partnership developed over years with the Government of Ethiopia and our shared commitment to national animal health priorities.
Looking Ahead Together
In closing, Dr. Soubeyran reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration and encouraged further engagement of VSF within regional and global public–private partnership initiatives under WoAH’s framework.
For our teams in Ethiopia, this visit represents an important moment of recognition. It also reinforces what drives our work: building strong partnerships that connect communities, national authorities and global institutions to create lasting impact.
Sustainable animal health systems are built together. And this visit confirmed that we are moving forward as partners.